Axis of Time

Axis of Time is the second long player by composer, mallet percussionist, and instructor Angelo Outlaw. The Philly native spent a decade playing with bands such as the Blue Coats and Music City Mystique gaining experience before going solo. His richly percussive sound weds deeply spiritual jazz to funk and modern R&B with rumbling basslines, grooving harp, soaring flute, and souled-out vocal choruses offering hooky refrains and rolling hi-hats and snare breaks. Before Axis of Time, Outlaw issued the long-player Uneven Contact in 2020, and two Outlaw Sessions EPs showcasing his work with beats, snaky mallet rhythms, hip-hop, house beats, and electronica. Axis of Time commences deceptively with the single "Free My Mind." Owing a massive debt to the influence and example of Roy Ayers, Outlaws rippling vibes frame Christine Elises funky harp, Vincent Johns Rhodes piano and electric bass, and Maxwell Perlas layered drum kit and hand percussion, all mixed with a vocal chorus repeatedly singing the title. Its answered by "Speed of Light," a driving fusion jam that derails and becomes souled-out, Latin-tinged jazz thanks in no small part to Ron Kerbers virtuoso flute playing. Outlaws vibes offer counterpoint to the Rhodes and synth, while the bassline is carried atop snare and kick drum breaks. "10th Wonder" showcases Outlaws fine marimba skills. An instrumental soul tune with lilting flute, it drifts, slips, and slides with psychedelic effects and an uplifting spiritual chorus. "Silent Horizon" sounds like a film cue, at least initially. A dubwise bassline and vibes swirl around synthed-up ambience, sparse drums, and loads of pillowy reverb. The tune swings through the ether as echo and dub effects emerge from the backdrop, then get framed, accented, and emphasized by Perlas easy groove. "Time Traveler" is a double-timed, wildly cinematic fusion led by Outlaws vibes, Johns rumbling bassline, wah-wah guitar, and Perlas tight rim shots and hi-hat flourishes. The tune exists as a forward-motion vamp that the ensemble colors in, then lifts into sublime dialogue and interplay. Axis of Time is rife with creative achievements. The first is Outlaws composing; it offers readily accessible, yet canny ideas filled with unexpected interactions and lush textures. He obviously loves circular rhythms and melodic improvisation. Outlaw prizes his band; they are as integral to the sound hes created here as he is. His playing doesnt rely so much on vamps and riffs (like Ayers) but on expansive chords, deft accents, lightning-quick fills, tight solos, lush harmonic textures, and plenty of space. The Eraserhood Sound production team understands that M.O. implicitly. They dont act as studio guides but as collaborators. Axis of Time is auspicious. It reveals Outlaws mature vision, focus, and new groove consciousness illuminated in soul-jazz and slinky funk. ~ Thom Jurek