The Oberlin Review
<< Front page Arts September 22, 2006

Slavic Soul Party Shakes Some Brass in Oberlin

It was unfortunate that Slavic Soul Party performed at the ’Sco on a Sunday night, when most Oberlin students were rushing to finish their weekend homework. It is also a shame that the event was barely advertised, another reason why the show had such a small turn-out. Despite these factors, those who did come to the ’Sco last Sunday night were treated to a stellar performance.

Hailing from Brooklyn, New York (where else?), SSP is comprised of nine members, all from backgrounds as diverse as their music. Self-described as the number one brass band in “Balkan-soul-gypsy-funk,” SSP’s genre bending is exactly what makes them such a refreshing group to listen to.

They started off the evening with rousing songs that immediately had people dancing around the stage. They wasted no time warming up, and the trumpet player, saxophone player and snare drummer each performed compact yet moving solos.   

And if you think that the name “Slavic Soul Party” is just a description of the music the band plays, you would be mistaken. These gentlemen know how to get down — in more ways than one.

After the first couple of songs, the whole band — including the bass drummer — came down into the audience and started playing amid the twirling and jumping of Oberlin students and a few long-haired locals.

It was in this manner that they played my favorite song of the evening, “Dance the Dust Up.” The song began with a clarinet solo and burst into an infectious melody that, combined with the band now actually immersed in the crowd, it was impossible not to move your body in some kind of rhythmic fashion.

Playing amid the sweaty audience for the rest of the set, SSP built momentum through their fast-paced, innovative songs, so that by the time they were finished playing their first set, the crowd could not stop cheering.

During the break, the band caroused with each other and members of the audience, polished off twenty-ounce bottles of New Castle and regained their energy. At around 11:15 p.m., the band picked up their instruments again and promptly walked out of the ’Sco as they began to play.

Like a tribe of pied pipers, they marched through the Decafé, playing June Carter and Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire” and leading the twirling masses through the aisles.

I am not sure if the basement of Wilder has seen such a wild Sunday night in many years, as workers and students alike were forced to stop what they were doing for a moment and dig the bass drummer pounding away by the Naked Juice.

The second set was equally fantastic as the first.  The guest female vocalist kept the second set from lagging.  She sang with incredible power and control, adding an element of depth to each piece. 

When midnight rolled around and the lights of the ’Sco went up, the crowd continued to cheer and SSP played an encore to a delighted, now devoted, following. 

If you like jazz, soul, gypsy, funk or any combination thereof, then get to the next Slavic Soul Party, or at least pick up a copy of their CD in Brooklyn. You will not be sorry.


 
 
   

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