Search - Don Byron And Existential Dred :: Nu Blaxploitation

Nu Blaxploitation
Don Byron And Existential Dred
Nu Blaxploitation
Genres: Jazz, Special Interest, Pop
 
  •  Track Listings (14) - Disc #1

At the tail end of Don Byron's liner notes and lyrics from this genre-bending CD, the clarinetist notes that "The evasion of civil, focused discussions of racial issues is, in itself, a form of racism." Indeed, Nu Blaxploi...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Don Byron And Existential Dred
Title: Nu Blaxploitation
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: EMI Import
Original Release Date: 7/28/1998
Release Date: 7/28/1998
Album Type: Explicit Lyrics, Import
Genres: Jazz, Special Interest, Pop
Styles: Avant Garde & Free Jazz, Jazz Fusion, Modern Postbebop, Bebop
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPCs: 724349371125, 0724349371156, 7243893711254, 724389371125, 724349371125

Synopsis

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At the tail end of Don Byron's liner notes and lyrics from this genre-bending CD, the clarinetist notes that "The evasion of civil, focused discussions of racial issues is, in itself, a form of racism." Indeed, Nu Blaxploitation extends the frontal approach to African American history and the history of race in the United States that Byron took on his debut CD, Tuskegee Experiments. Performance poet Sadiq was also on board for Byron's debut, and now, after four wide-ranging, pan-stylistic jazz recordings, Byron returns with Sadiq for a session that's part street theater, part satire, and many parts steamy post-bebop avant-funk jazz. Byron's clarinet plays an often secondary role to Sadiq's ruminations, and a phenomenally soulful guest appearance by Biz Markie. But when Byron's playing, he's all over the horn, blowing off-kilter highs and cloudy lows. Byron nods to the past in many ways here, from dedicating the CD to early black rock pioneers Mandrill to taking on seemingly textbook blaxploitation dialogue for lyrical material. All in all, this is surely Byron's most challenging work, but it's all in the manner that Boogie Down Production leader KRS-ONE described years ago as "edutainment." --Andrew Bartlett

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CD Reviews

An album that lives up to its title
MYSTR Treefrog | 08/02/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)

"One might be sceptical about an artist who has the guts to name his album Nu Blaxploitation. I mean, how can one nowadays get sounds equal to those early 70s black funk sounds? Well, Byron does it. Don't know how, but this is a serious 90s tribute to early seventies black rock and funk musicians. Especially check out the original tracks 'Alien', 'Blinky' and 'Furman'. The over ten minute live track 'Schizo Jam' also stands out."
An Ephiphany..Period.
MYSTR Treefrog | D.C. | 06/28/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Nu Blaxploitation is genius in the warm glow of collaberation. Those who critisize Do Byron because he wouldn't shut up and play his horn have ENTIRELY missed the point of this piece. Sometimes listeners hate "their" artists mixing thought and opinion with aural frequencies. Guess what? Musicians are not wallpaper. When I first heard the Byron treatment of " If 6 were 9" I stopped my car in rush hopur traffic,pulled to the side and listened in rapt amazement. MANGO MEAT is monsterous! If you don't want to hear the snippets of conversation, thats OK..just press fast forward..but to show respect for the WHOLE artist..LISTEN...thats all...just LISTEN. And TRANCEND.I, for one, have been evolved by this music and layering of thought music the power of humor and musical vision.

May The Purists be Damned."