‘Awake’
by Ameranouche Trio

You don’t have to wait long to get a taste of Ameranouche Trio’s acoustic string prowess on the band’s latest CD. Opening with the peppy jazz of “Ameranouche Swing,” guitarist/composer Richard Sheppard burns up the frets on his acoustic guitar, spitting out rapid-fire notes that conjure the ghost of Django Reinhardt and echo the rich traditions of European gypsy jazz.

The acoustic jazz power trio of Sheppard on lead guitar, Ryan Flaherty on rhythm guitar and Xar Adelberg on bass then strum their way into a Flamenco-style reboot of the 1957 French classic “La Foule.” It’s the only non-original composition among the album’s 11 tracks, and it demonstrates both the band’s respect for tradition and its ear for inventiveness.

Formed in 2004, Ameranouche received considerable acclaim for its debut album, “Homage A Manouche,” and enjoyed a highlight last year when the band opened for Sonny Rollins and Herbie Hancock at the 2008 JVC Newport Jazz Festival. The trio has tour dates in support of the new CD booked through the summer in New Hampshire and across the East Coast.

Sheppard, whose professional career has included performances with the likes of Taj Mahal, Rick Danko and Hot Tuna, among others, is the veteran leader here, and his dizzying abilities on guitar bring to mind the acoustic work of masters like Al DiMeola and Paco De Lucia. But Flaherty’s mesh of rhythm chops and Adelberg’s thumping upright bass work are equally vital to the whole.

Visit www.ameranouche.com or www.myspace.com/ameranouche.

‘Gospel Is Not a Spectator Sport’
by The Funky Divas of Gospel

Weighing in at 20 songs and about an hour and 20 minutes of music, the latest disc from The Funky Divas does not skimp on the gospel. The new album comes out of the gates bursting with positive energy and raw musical joy.

The Funky Divas of Gospel consists of a large vocal choir and a five-piece band that root their sound around the gospel traditions of southern African-American R&B. The multi-instrumentalists also inject a rock flavor, while the vocalists incorporate songs from a variety of faiths and cultures.

“Gospel Is Not a Spectator Sport” opens with an uproarious and enthusiastic R&B number, complete with growing vocals and a dedication to “all the mothers and the grandmothers.” The following track “Help Somebody” is a bit softer and features more of a traditional spiritual sound. The song ends with a call to “go out and help somebody get to Heaven,” and that type of life-affirming religious message prevails throughout the album.  

Though the recording naturally draws attention to the male and female vocal leads, the instrumental band offers skillful and bluesy guitar work, keyboards, saxophones and percussion. The choir has grown and shrank over the years since the Divas formed in 1991 but now features 10 vocalists and one vocal director. The album includes 15 studio tracks and five live cuts that also feature members of Women Singing OUT!. There is a bonus track on the band’s Web site at www.funkydivasofgospel.com.

‘No Plan B’
by Sons of Kalal

Sons of Kalal is a five-piece hip-hop band composed of four MCs and one DJ, all originally from Raymond and now based in Manchester. The group has maintained its Granite State pride, opening its debut album with a vigorous shout of “Live free or die baby!” A total of 20 tracks follow for 45 minutes of original group hip-hop that reawakens a positive, old-school style of rapping.

Once members of rival hip-hop groups at Raymond High School, MC Mike Capone linked up with Bionik, Simple and Mr-6 at a party in 2002. The group temporarily disbanded when Capone moved to Florida for college, but he returned after determining that the Florida hip-hop scene was “way to gangster” for his liking. SOK reunited in 2007, adding MC Big Worm to the mix, and began recording their debut album.

The resulting disc, “No Plan B,” came out late last year. The sound varies widely on each track, echoing hip-hoppers like Jurassic 5, early Black Eyed Peas and The Roots. But the band also sometimes channels the funky blues of groups like Parliament Funkadelic, with Capone adding competent guitar work.

Some tracks seem a bit lofty, especially “Hands Up,” which begins with a stern demand to “Do unto others as you would like done to you,” and features a sample of Europe’s “The Final Countdown.” But the lyrics are generally positive and thoughtful. “Invoke a better way of livin’ ’til the day I croak,” the group raps in “Hands Up.”

Visit www.sonsofkalal.com or www.myspace.com/sonsofkalal.

‘Mike Stockbridge’
by Mike Stockbridge

After years of studying and teaching jazz, guitarist Mike Stockbridge has launched a new aspect of his professional career with the release of his self-titled debut album. It’s an instrumental whirlwind that should help firmly establish Stockbridge, who showcases twisting electric licks that call to mind influences like Bill Frisell and Pat Metheny.

Born in Wolfeboro and now residing in Tamworth, Stockbridge attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has also spent time in Portsmouth, where he established an ensemble based lesson program in 2007. His career as a music educator and performer has seen him work in a variety of contexts, playing with blues and funk bands in addition to jazz ensembles.

Stockbridge is joined on the new album by Evan Miller on keys, Andy Rice on bass, Shawn Boissonneault on drums and Aaron Greene on trumpet. The strong instrumentalists go a long way to bolster the CD, smoothly complementing Stockbridge’s guitar work. Stockbridge mixed, mastered and produced the disc, recording in Biddeford, Maine.

A highlight of the album is “Espionage,” which begins with a sleek and funky bass line and features a concentrated fusion sound befitting of the song’s title. “Grey Sky Window” adopts a slower, meditative sound, while the tempo speed up again on “Homecoming.” The quintet’s shifting jazz moods provide sonic simulation throughout, closing on an experimental note with “The Ex-Men.”

Inspired by the release of his first album, Stockbridge plans to return to the studio soon. “I’m just getting started,” he writes in the CD sleeve.

Visit www.mikestockbridge.com or www.myspace.com/mikestockbridge.