‘Out Through the N Door’

Mix Magazine: Staff Picks April 1 1999

Broun Fellinis: Out Through the N Door (Brounsoun Records) Ever since acid jazz took a strong hold on the new music scene in the early '90s, San Francisco's Broun Fellinis have maintained a constant presence. Because so much of what they do is live improv, it is perfectly fitting that the band recorded their second release, Out Through the N Door, in front of an audience at Found Sound Studios in San Francisco. The album explores territory from mellow to fierce, moving from avant-garde jazz through funked-up dance floor grooves and into hypnotic chill-out. At the forefront of the Fellinis' sound, David Boyce's saxophone brings the spirit of '60s improv jazz to the group, his full-bodied tone drawing inspiration from players such as John Coltrane and Archie Shepp. Boyce also expounds Afrocentric spoken word on top of the grooves on tracks such as "Point of View" and "T.A.B.N.I.T.S." Propelled by the music, his eloquently worded, esoteric soliloquies hit hard. The album features the group's new bassist, Kirk "The Redeemer" Peterson, creating a chemistry that improves on the feel of their first release, while exploring similar terrain.

Engineers: Thom Canova and David Kaplowitz. Mixers: Keith "Kount" Yansurak, Professor Boris Karnaz, Black Edgar Khenyatta and David Ogilvy. Studios: Found Sound, Hyde Street (S.F.). Mastering: Paul Stubblebine, Hyde Street.

-Alex Butkus