Rubblebucket Orchestra: Rubblebucket

    Rubblebucket Orchestra (or just Rubblebucket) is a tough band to categorize. They consider themselves Afrobeat poly-rock, but I would definitely include: folk, funk, psychedelic and jam band to their style list. This group was recommended to me by my bro, and I believe they came to Rochester, NY to do a show, or Buffalo, I don't really know which actually (maybe both...I've covered all bases). Nevertheless, they are from Brooklyn, NY and basically lay down a beat and keep repeating it, you will hear in the beats and even some minimalist tendencies, while varying what's on top through the instrumentation, vocals and/or textures. The singer is Kalmia Traver, whose voice is reminiscent of Björk, while maintaining more of an edge. So how do I get all these different influences piled together in one heap? Let's explore:
    Afrobeat is a style originating in the 1960's and a term coined in Nigeria in the 1970's by Fela Kuti. He was a band leader, composer and political activist whose group, Nigeria 70 (formerly Koola Lobitos) later changed to Africa 70, played in a club he named Afro-Shine. Afrobeat consists of chants, call and response, and intricate intertwining at times African rhythms. It also includes and comes from: Yoruba music (from the Yoruba people of Nigeria that used the native dundun hourglass tension drums to a highly skilled degree), jazz, highlife (a style of Ghana in the 1900's that spread to the surrounding countries including Nigeria by the 1920's, characterized by jazz horns, guitars, an uptempo synth-driven sound), funk, chants, vocals and well lots of percussion. You can get an idea of Fela Kuti's music from here: http://www.last.fm/music/Fela+Kuti
    There are three recordings out of Rubblebucket. One is under the group name of Rubblebucket Orchestra, Rose's Dream (2008), and the others Rubblebucket, Rubblebucket (2009) and Came Out of a Lady Suite (2010). The latter is a shorter album, like a single, containing remixes and a b-side 8-bit version--something akin to Mario Bros. Nintendo music but with a more updated electronic setting. What I have uploaded for you to hear...you who actually read this blog...is from Rubblebucket, the 2nd track (of 12), "Ba Donso, We Did This", because it is perhaps more immersive of all the different styles you will hear on the album; lighter carefreeness, jamming, funk, modern jazzyness (which reminds me somewhat of Maria Schneider), full on vocals and the Afrobeat folkiness. Enjoy!