Rebel Tumbao has the social awareness of Bob Marley and a reggae feel that is compounded by an equally vibrant Latin groove and a touch of hip-hop. Their album
Rebel Tumbao (self-released) shows us what they can do. It's a band with a full Latin percussion section, various lead singers who deliver and a two-trombone brass punch. Matt Jenson seems to be the musical leader on keys, assorted percussion and arrangements. Joe Claussell does arrangements as well and plays a wide assortment of percussion instruments. The arrangements are well done and give us convincing fusions of the three strains mentioned above and at times a pronounced jazz flavoring.
The program covers some Bob Marley classics, some good Matt Jenson originals, and Trane's "Love Supreme" juxtaposed with Marley's "Exodus".
It works and works well. I know of no better reggae-Latin compounding out there. And the music gets to you in the best ways. Auspicious beginnings!
