Zone Unknown

by Gabrielle Roth

Overview

Mirrors musical director Gabrielle Roth takes her Five Rhythms (see Roth bio) onto the pavement and out into the steely nights of the city. Acoustic drums and percussion still set the trance-dance beats, but touches of electricity (bass, synth, drum programs) have infiltrated the hypnotic cadences. The result is an album more for pure dance (fun!) than for moving through emotional catharsis. Indeed, Roth's usual slogan, "Sweat your prayers," is slightly altered to "Dance your heart out and your ass off -- into the zone." The title cut is a slinky, almost spooky, version of her typical belly-dance "flowing" movement. Listening to this cut, one can easily see how the flowing movement will catalyze the emotion of fear -- very shadowy. "Downtown" includes the cool, muted jazz trumpet of Chris Botti, the funky bass of Sergio Bandao, and Roth's sultry voice coaxing, "Let's dance." The lively "Buffalo Dream" gallops in a 6/8 chaos cadence, but it has a Native American feel to it. "Avenue A" is a breathless run amid the streets and wires of the city, while "Jamu" returns to a slinkier blues chaos rhythm with Jai Uttal on guitars and synth and Mindy Jostyn on harmonica and vocals. The album ends with the smoldering stillness of "Drifting"; Mark Shulman is featured on the wailing guitar. If you've seen and danced to Roth's Wave video, you'd know how much Roth is a creature of the Village; this album celebrates the mysteries of the city while still staking claim to the soul. ~ Carol Wright

Product Details

Release Date:	05/13/1997
Label:	RAVEN
UPC:	0736998597122

Tracks

1. Tracks
2. Zone Unknown
3. Downtown
4. Buffalo Dream
5. Avenue A
6. Jamu
7. Tribe
8. Drifting

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Gabrielle Roth   Primary Artist,Vocals,Musical Director
Gabrielle Roth & the Mirrors   Primary Artist
Robert Ansell   Bata,Drums,Shaker,Concert Toms
Rocky Bryant   Drums
Steve Dwire   Bass
Benny Koonyevtsky   Log Drums
David Rosenberg   Drums
Harvey Jones   Synthesizer
Sanga of the Valley   Bells,Blocks,Bongos,Jimbae,Asheiko,Percussion
Chris Botti   Trumpet
Jai Uttal   Guitar,Guitar (Synthesizer)
Lenny Kaye   Guitar
Mark Egan   Bass
Roger Moutenot   Guitar,Guitar (7 String Electric)
Sahaj Ticotin   Bass,Vocals
Mindy Jostyn   Vocals,Harmonica
Cyro Baptista   Percussion
Youth   Bass
Allison Cornell   Viola,Violin
Joe Bonadio   Dumbek
Geoffrey Gordon   Tabla,Tambur,Tambourine
Carl Adami   Synthesizer
Bob Een   Cello
Joe Brandao   Hi Hat,Percussion
Sahaj Spiegel   Tabla,Duggis,Tarang
Michael Markus   Jun-Jun

Technical Credits

Scott Ansell   Engineer,Mixing,Producer,Recording
Robert Ansell   Producer
Steve Dwire   Drum Programming
Rob Paustian   Engineer
Shelby Rae   Cover Art
Gabrielle Roth   Composer,Producer
A.T. Michael MacDonald   Mastering
Greg Wittrock   Cover Design
David Robbins   Engineer