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CD Review: The Uniphonics' 'Crawl'
The Daily Iowan

November 18, 2010

This pneumatic, skin-tight combo has placed a singular stamp on the area's scene over the past three-plus years, spot-welding Derek "Animosity" Thorn's tongue-tripping rhymes to jazzified funk churned out by a sinuous, high octane quintet.

Recorded with clarity and punch by John Svec at his Minstrel Studios, The Uniphonics' first full-length biscuit offers an hour-plus of taut, hard-case jams.

Mixing populist bromides, peer/influence name-checks and general braggadocio, Animosity is an effective, percussive rapper; meanwhile, the rhythm section of bassist Ryan Casteel and tub-thumper Forrest Heusinkveld is -- like good bacon -- crisp AND greasy, and guitarist Craig Heidgerken, keyboardist Joseph McKinley and (especially) saxophonist Ben Pierce tag-team from sleek comping to well-placed solo accents.

All-world trombonist Robin Eubanks (Dave Holland, Stevie Wonder) offers dazzling, thoroughly-engaged romps on the spacious left-fielder "Land Mines" and the big-time title-track, Dennis McMurrin applies his legendary ax to the P-Funk-flavored "We Bring the Funk," and Aaron "Heatbox" Heaton adds flair to the boss, kinetic closer, "So I Say II."

-- Jim Musser

Crawl feat. Robin Eubanks

Land Minds feat. Robin Eubanks

Two great ladies of jazz, vocalists Gretchen Parlato, "a singer with a deep,&nbsp;almost magical connection to the music" (Herbie Hancock), and Kat Edmonson, "equal parts Billie Holiday and Bjork" (All About Jazz),&nbsp;soothe, delight, and seduce, in an evening of jazz standards and more.

One Fine Day - Gretchen Parlato and Kat Edmonson

Within Me -Gretchen Parlato

Gretchen Parlato - All That I Can Say

01 Gretchen Parlato - I Can't Help It

Norwegian Wood
Arranged by Nicholas Urie 


Norwegian Wood w/ Kurt Elling & Kluvers Big Band arr. Nicholas Urie

Gretchen Parlato "How We Love"

The Gate | Kurt Elling

Esperanza Spalding - Overjoyed

Melody Gardot - Ain't No Sunshine

Kurt elling live from newport

Grammy Nominee | Best Jazz Vocal Album | 1619 Broadway: The Brill Building Project | Kurt Elling | Concord Jazz

You Send Me | Kurt Elling

Grammy Nominee | Best Jazz Vocal Album | Radio Music Society | Esperanza Spalding | Heads Up International

Amazon.com

Black Gold | Esperanza Spalding

Grammy Nominee | Best Long Form Music Video | Radio Music Society | Esperanza Spalding, Pilar Sanz, video director; Esperanza Spalding, video producer  | Heads Up International

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Kendrick Vaughn