SLAMM: San Diego's Music Magazine
www.slammsd.com
WISE MONKEY ORCHESTRA, "THEY LIVE"
Issue #148 - December 13, 2000

*** 1/2
Goes well with: Ozomatli, Busride, and a cold beer

Wise Monkey Orchestra might very well be one of Southern California’s finest funk bands. Lead singer, Alley, has one of those robust jazz voices that commands all heads turn in her direction. The band’s careful infusions of jazzy horns, clever funk basslines, and well-timed solos prove that WMO understands the fundamentals of improvisation, which makes the group a pleasure to listen to time and time again. Playing to this strength, WMO has released its latest: They Live, an album that captures them doing what they do best.

Very few bands these days can boast that they are better on-stage than in the studio; Wise Monkey is the exception to this rule. The ten tracks on this album make for a pleasurable listening experience, whether cruising down the 5 or hanging out after a hard day at the office. "Movin’ Free," in all its splendor, showcases the superb musicianship with a toe-tapping guitar riff, thick bassline, and synchronized brass dollops here and there -- not to mention Alley’s free-movin’ entrance, which rounds out the groove.

Other tracks like "SLM" and "Space," both clocking in at over five minutes, mix flute and organ for a little Latin jazz flavor, as WMO showboats its gift for musical gab. Although They Live is well-orchestrated, the similarities from song to song can grow a bit tedious, leaving one asking, "Didn’t I just hear this?" However, since funk is such a close cousin to jazz, this minor detail can be overlooked if it’s improvisation that one craves.

- Reno Picconi