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Flyin' the Koop

by Stanton Moore

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Stanton Moore has been one of Galactic's primary members for years, but here on his second solo effort the drummer goes out on his own with groove heavies such as bassist Chris Wood and saxophonists Karl Denson and Skerik. The four roar through a program of bouncing originals, mostly co-composed with the players, that owe just as deep a debt to the Meters as Grant Green. Steering this funk bus from the drum chair, Moore keeps things moving with a loose-limbed style that sounds casual but is consistently on the mark. The players skew the funk-jazz formulae plenty, with Skerik in particular kicking up a racket at times. In comparison, Denson seems to be in a verbosely bop mood that works nicely as counterpoint. Bringing the proceedings down to a gentle shuffle, "Amy's Lament" is a slow military march that sounds like Moore took it from a funeral-parade songbook. Overall, however, Flyin' the Koop is an upbeat affair that delivers everything you'd hoped for from this crew, and more. --Tad Hendrickson