The Dancing Tree 06.02.08

New Additions:

Freekbass - Grooveyard CD - Protege to funk-bass pioneer Bootsy Collins, fellow Cincinnati native Chris "Freekbass" Sherman and his band have inherited the Buckeye State's funk flag, while winning over many funk-favoring ears across the Midwest. Recorded live at the 20th Century Theatre in Cincinnatti, Grooveyard is just that - a wide-open space full of dance-inducing, hard-hitting and sweaty electronic funk that listeners can let their ears run wild and get lost in! $12.00




The Herbaliser - Same As It Never Was CD - Blending hip-hop, sampled breaks, and jazz, The Herbaliser have, with their five Ninja Tune full lengths, remained stalwarts of the creative downtempo scene for more than a decade. Same As It Never Was is a brand new effort, and the first with the group's new five piece line-up including lead vocalist Jessica Darling. It's clear that The Herbaliser's evolution is still in progress. As the title suggests, Same As It Never Was sees The Herbaliser employing more of a live band sound (indicative of their transition from a duo to a five piece), showing that they can produce scratchy funk to rival groups like the Dap Kings. With guest vocalists including Jean Grae of the Okayplayer camp and their signature knack for reflective songs that still bump, it's clear that The Herbaliser's sonic trajectory is still picking up steam. $15.99


Anthony Smith's Trunk Fulla Funk - Life As We Know It CD - Anthony Smith is best known these days for providing the Hammond backbone and deft, left-handed bass lines in the highly acclaimed Karl Denson Trio (KD3). Others will remember him as the charismatic chairman of Global Funk Council, an ensemble that gained notice through over 600 tour dates across the country. Now, Anthony Smith brings us Trunk Fulla Funk, a supergroup of jam scene veterans and show-stopping newcomers. Their debut album blends Smith's impeccable songwriting, pop mentality and expert arrangements with the virtuosity of an all-star cast including Karl Denson, Fareed Haque, Jake Najor, and many more. The result is a fresh, edgy perspective of the times. $13.99


Four Finger Five - Four Finger Five CD - Incorporating myriad genres including jazz, soul, rock and pop, this trio from Muskegon, Michigan has concocted a truly unique style, deftly taking the classic triumvirate of guitar, bass, and drums and building a sound that is at once innovative and creative while feeling as familiar as a thrift store coat. Featuring collaborations with world-renowned saxophonist Karl Denson and pianist Anthony Smith, Four Finger Five presents a band that is young but confident, demonstrating tremendous talent with all aspects of the songwriting craft and a willingness to leave traditional conceptions of jazz/rock/soul at the door. While this self-titled release features several tracks that clearly reveal the band's jam-based roots, it displays incredible diversity, bringing an air of culture to blue-collar rock and urban pop/soul by using straight ahead jazz elements to bridge a gap between those two long-isolated genres. $13.99

We added these Burning Spear titles for the Asheville Music Jamboree, and they are now available online:
Marcus Garvey CD
Man in the Hills/Dry and Heavy CD
Gold (2 CDs)
The Ultimate Collection CD


Tea Leaf Green's Taught to Be Proud is now available once again!


The 3-CD Frank Zappa set Threesome Vol. 2 is now available again! We have also added Zappa's Guitar 2-CD set.


Coming Soon:

June 10 - Railroad Earth - Amen Corner CD (pre-order)
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges CD (pre-order) LP release date is pending
My Morning Jacket - Okonokos 4-LP set (pre-order)
Robert Walter - Cure All CD (pre-order)
The Infamous Stringdusters CD (pre-order)
Trey Anastasio - Original Boardwalk Style (pre-order CD or LP)
N.E.R.D. - Seeing Sounds (pre-order CD & LP)

June 24 - Roots of Creation - Live Vol. 1 CD (pre-order)
Scrapomatic - Sidewalk Caesars CD (pre-order)
Warren Haynes Presents The Benefit Concert Vol. 8 (2006 XMas Jam) DVD (pre-order)
Rose Hill Drive - Moon Is the New Earth (pre-order CD & LP)
Drive-By Truckers - Brighter Than Creation's Dark (180g 2-LP set) (pre-order)
G. Love and Special Sauce - Superhero Brother (pre-order CD & LP)

July - Sound Tribe Sector Nine - Peaceblaster CD

July 1 - Charlie Wheeler Band - Highway Run CD

July 8 - Donna the Buffalo - Silverlined CD
Sim Redmond Band - Room in These Skies CD

July 22 - Dr. Dog - Fate CD/LP
My Morning Jacket - It Still Moves 2-LP Set
The Avett Brothers - The Second Gleam (CD and LP)
Tea Leaf Green - Raise Up the Tent CD

August 5 - Mike Gordon - The Green Sparrow CD

August 19 - Xavier Rudd - Dark Shades of Blue CD

September 9 - Michael Franti & Spearhead - All Rebel Rockers CD


Last Week's Additions:

moe. - Warts and All Vol. 6 (3 CDs)
Ozric Tentacles - Sunrise Festival CD & DVD
SciFi - SciFi CD
Licorice - A Million Grains of Sand EP

News and Reviews:

HGMN Greening Success So Far
Trinumeral Festival Lineup Announced
Inaugural Vortex Music Festival Announced

Top 25 Sellers For May 2008:

1- Derek Trucks Band - Live at GA Theatre
2- The Ragbirds - Wanderlove
3- Grace Potter - Original Soul
4- SOJA - Get Wiser
5- Ryan Montbleau Band - Patience on Friday
6- The Brew - Back to the Woods
7- Bonerama - Bringing It Home
8- Xavier Rudd - Good Spirit DVD
9- Phish - The White Tape
10- Michael Franti & Spearhead - Live in Alaska
11- SOJA - Peace in a Time of War
12- Troy Andrews - Orleans & Claiborne
13- Ryan Montbleau Band - One Fine Color
14- Various Artists - Home Grown 7
15- Sound Tribe Sector Nine - Artifact
16- Allman Brothers Band - Jazz Fest 2007
17- moe. - Warts and All Vol. 6
18- Corinne West - Second Sight
19- Electric Apricot: Quest for Festeroo DVD
20- Jam Cam Chronicles - Wanee 2007 DVD
21- Papa Grows Funk - Live at the Leaf
22- Boombox - Visions of Backbeat
23- The Brew - The Key
24- Laura Reed & Deep Pocket - Soul:Music
25- New Monsoon - V