Bring In 'Da Noise, Bring In 'Da Funk

New York Times (Publisher) (9/10/96, p.C11) - "...Instead of dance, the heart of the record becomes the show's rich mosaic of music, poetry and speech....the album successfully suggests a continuity among all the score's abrupt changes of style....the chameleon-voiced Ann Duquesnay does a remarkable job of bridging blues, gospel, folk and funk styles..."

Savion Glover's smash Broadway hit Bring in 'da Noise Bring in 'da Funk took critics by storm, and this album is a live recording of a performance of the show. The album progresses through five main movements of black history and tap. "In 'da Beginning" pertains to the slave era. "Urbanization" portrays the Chicago black scene. "Where's the Beat" deals with the progression of dancing. "Street Corner Symphony" deals with the new urban era, and "Noise/Funk" is a demonstration of the prowess of Glover and his comrades in hittin', the new style of tap created by Glover, which involves less of the visual show associated with dance, and serves primarily to create music with the sounds of the tap shoes, as well as associates on various objects (paint buckets, chains, fencing, etc.). In truth, stripped of the costuming and visual effects, the album becomes a large work of poetry, sounding at times like Stomp, with orchestral accompaniment and vocalists. The work can seem like musique concrete at times, but retains a large musical interpretation of black culture, as well as some impressive percussion pieces, in the "Noise/Funk" section. The music is exceptional, but for the full power of the show, one really needs to see Savion Glover at work. ~ Adam Greenberg