MARCH 1, 2002

CD REVIEWS
STANTON MOORE
Flyin‚ The Koop
(Blue Thumb / Verve Records)
By John Wirt

Stanton Moore — drummer for the popular New Orleans funk ’n’ jam band, Galactic — gets top billing for Flyin’ The Koop, a lively jazz and funk project that definitely deserves favor.

Sax and flute man Karl Denson and saxophonist Skerik do most of the melodic duties. These reed players are a fun pair, whether doubling on themes or blowing solo. Guitarist Brian Seeger strums funky rhythm guitar and picks rock and jazz solos. Chris Wood’s acoustic bass provides a rich bottom.

As for Moore, he’s learned his New Orleans drum lessons well, laying a second-line beat down for "Lets Go" and playing rock steady for the jazz-funk-soul meld of "Tang the Hump."

Samples from the Wild Magnolias Mardi Gras Indians flavor "Fallin’ Off the Floor," underlining Flyin’ The Koop’s already clear Crescent City connection. Moore’s imaginative drums, not surprisingly, are way up in the mix in the latter track and deserving of their prominence. Another plus for the disc is its variety of material, including the Mahavishnu Orchestra-style jazz-rock of "Things Fall Apart," funeral-march atmosphere of "Amy’s Lament" and trad jazz of "Magnolia Triangle."

Flyin The Koop is a terrific release from a New Orleans artist.