Various, Arthur Doyle
Qbico U-Nite VI & VII

5
...according to our Brett on 12 February 2010.

I just randomly chucked a side of this Qbico triple LP compilation on, not having the vaguest notion of where to start, and I'm straight into the groove with the Odu Afrobeat Orchestra, not an outfit I've heard before but one I'll be doing my best to check out in the future on the basis of the fine Fela-invoking leads and grooviest of rhythms. Elsewhere you've got some crazy drum skills from Ravi Padmanabha fighting for and against some super crazy sax tones from Steve Baczkowski, a quite unique-sounding set from Arthur Doyle's Electro-Acoustic Ensemble, a cracking set from Andrew Barker and Daniel Carter that flows from laid-back club tones into the occasional violent eruption, Faruq Z. Bey's outing with the Northwood Improvisers which starts off with swing-laden bop before collapsing into an every-man-for-himself noise orgy and the jazzy funk of Muruga and the Global Village Band. I wish I had time to listen to all of this properly 'cos the vast majority of it sounds pretty mega.

Love this record? Hate it? Tell us.

What their label says...

QBICO U-NITE VI & VII, Detroit & Buffalo, USA (QBICO 99) 3LP, black vinyls, insert, artworks by Muruga, mastering Maurizio Abate

u-nite VI
Bohemian National Ballroom, Detroit
Nov. 16, 2006

side A

Faruq Z. Bey w/Northwoods Improvisers

Faruq Z. Bey- tenor, alto sax
Mike Carey- bass clarinet, tenor sax
Skeeter C.R. Shelton- soprano, alto, tenor sax, flute
Mike Gilmore- vibes
Mike Johnston- bass
Nick Ashton- drums, percussion

Emerging field
Half life w/special guest Perry Robinson- clarinet

side B

Muruga and the Global Village Ceremonial Band

Drums & Percussion: Muruga Booker
Vocals: Belita Woods, Treylewd, Louie "Babblin" Kabbabie
Percussion: Aaron Vittala Bookvich
Shakers: Richie "Shakin" Nagan
Clarinet: Perry Robinson
Saxophone: Mark Hershberger
Saxophone & Percussion: Ralph Koziarski
Zen Drum & Keyboards: Ken Kozora
Bass: Richard Smith
Guitar: George Kerby

Self A Dilic Funk

side C

Odu Afrobeat Orchestra:

Adeboye Adegbenro- vocals, tenor and alto saxophones
Chris Facini- guitar
Chad Gilchrist- guitar
Joel Peterson- bass
Kevin Callaway- drums
Akunda Brian Hollis- conga
Faruq Z. Bey- alto sax
Michael Carey- tenor saxophone
Marko Novachcoff- baritone sax
William Townley- trombone

Machine Gun
Kakati Yaga


u-nite VII
Soundlab, Buffalo (presented by Hallwalls Contemporary Arts Center)
Nov. 18, 2006

side D

Steve Baczkowski/Ravi Padmanabha

Steve Baczkowski- baritone sax, tenor sax, pungi
Ravi Padmanabha- drums, percussion, pungi

malleus
incus
stapes

side E

Andrew Barker/Daniel Carter

Andrew Barker- drums, percussion
Daniel Carter- flute, clarinet, alto sax

improvisation

side F

Arthur Doyle Electro-Acoustic Ensemble

Arthur Doyle- voice, alto sax
Nuuj- electronics
Dave Cross- turntables
Tim Poland- clavinova
Vin Paternostro- Korg EA-1
Ed Wilcox- percussion, drums

cave dross
crass dove

"Memorable and probably unrepeatable two qbico u-nites rec. in Detroit & Buffalo in 2006. worths mentioning: Perry Robinson jamming with Faruq Z. Bey and Northwoods Improvisors, Muruga Free Funk Band in full glory with the lovely Belita Woods and members of P-Funk, like Louie "Babblin" Kabbabie from Lebanon or Treylewd, Perry too (audience got carried away and i saw people dancing on top of other people shoulders ?!) ! Odu Afrobeat Orchestra led by Fela's alumni Adeboye Adegbenro (sax/vocals/real deal) in which also Faruq played that night, Steve Baczkowski/Ravi Padmanabha with an hypnotic pungi duo, a long and fascinating improvisation by Andrew Barker/Daniel Carter (qbico 02) and finally what'd be one of the very last rec. of the Arthur Doyle Electro-Acoustic Ensemble with nearly all his original members. from afro-jazz, funk and afro-beat to free jazz/free music and outer space... more then two hours of great lake music !"