Smoth Grooves
Musicologist | Georgia | 11/05/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"In late 2000, three native Philadelphian musicians teamed up for an experimental Jazz-based eclectic mix of sounds. The outcome promised to be an impressive and unique touch which crosses the boundaries of three genres in the art of music; Hip-Hop, Jazz, and Classical. The three revolutionaries were drummer Ahmir "?uestlove" Thompson (of the progressive, live Hip-Hop band, The Roots), famed Modern-Jazz bassist Christian McBride, and Classical pianist and keyboardist, Uri Caine.Throughout the eleven tracks on the self-titled Rope-A-Dope Records released "The Philadelphia Experiment," the listener (you) falls into a sense of soothing relaxation as Caine tickles the ivories, Thompson dribbles the toms and rides the cymbals, and McBride slides his fingers up and down, right and left on his acoustic and electric basses.The album is by no means any competition for classics as "Kind Of Blue" or "A Love Supreme" (parts of the album aren't really Jazz at all, and the general sound is more of a modern groove than a timeless classic from yesteryear in Jazz). But for what it's worth, "The Philadelphia Experiment" is an innovation in the obscure arena of rhythmic connections in Jazz, Soul, Funk and other forms of instrumental and vocal expression. From the Smokey-Club feel of "Lesson #4" to the laid-back title-track, to the covers of Marvin Gaye's classic "Trouble Man" and Grover Washington/Bill Withers' "Just The Two Of Us" (with the latter being a bonus hidden track at the very end), TPE is well worth the purchase. Guest musicians include Pat Martino and Larry Gold.-Musicologist"