Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls

Website

www.tedsirota.com

Description

Chicago based drummer and bandleader Ted Sirota and his throng of Rebel Souls play avant-garde post-bop that isn't for the faint of heart. Their music is their weapon and they point and shoot at oppressors and reactionaries past and present.

Biography

Chicago based drummer Ted Sirota formed the avant-garde post-bop ensemble Rebel Souls in 1995 and quickly became one of Naim's stalwart jazz artists, with three stunning True Stereo recordings from Naim engineer Ken Christianson in five years (between 96-01).

The Rebel Souls have a unique formula comprising of afro-pop, funk, reggae, ska and hip-hop underpinned by the rebellious jazz and socially aware improv of the 1960s. Cultivating what the Chicago Reader describes as "immediately recognizable sound".

Over the years Sirota has hand picked some of Chicago's finest up and coming jazz cats to perform and record with, including Jeff Parker, Kevin Kizer, Jeff Hill, Rob Mazurek, Noel Kupersmith, Geof Bradfield, Greg Ward, Dave Miller and Jake Vinsel.

Sirota boasts a varied arsenal of influences with jazz from Ornette Coleman, Charlie Haden, John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk right through to reggae icon Bob Marley and world music from Nigeria's Fela Kuti.

Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls strive to use their music as a weapon in the battle against oppression and reactionaries worldwide, and not merely as ‘art for art's sake'.

Management

rebelsouls@tedsirota.com

Discography

	Seize The Time (2009) naimcd115 The Rebel Souls return to Naim for the best most outspoken album ever
	Propaganda (2000) naimcd036 Liberating Chicago post-bop that oozes capability and passion
	vs The Forces Of Evil (2000) naimcd051 The Rebel Souls return to Naim for an aptly riotous third album
	Rebel Roots (1997) naimcd014 Chicago's avant-garde scene never sounded so immediate as this unforgetable debut recording

Reviews | all reviews >>

Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls in The Jazz Rag
“prepare yourself for a treat”
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Seize The Time in Cadence
'This is music that embodies a politics simply by being so full of life and so plugged into the world.'
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Seize The Time on Improvijazzation Nation
'Sirota & krew have managed to capture the true rebellious time signatures that jazz was first based on & they know HOW to funkify it to the point that you won't be able to put it down anytime soon. I give this my MOST HIGHLY RECOMMENDED'
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Rebel Souls in IAJRC
'They do it all with an open spirit, infectious rhythms, and consistently engaging solos. Recommended.'
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Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls in Blitz
"No amount of self-assurance could propel the endeavors of even the most gifted of aspirants beyond the level of being a well meaning exercise in futility"
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Seize The Time in Jazzin'
"Highly recommended to fans of adventurous jazz"
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Seize The Time in Jazz Weekly
"Varied and vivacious with a nice balance of freedom and form...electric"
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Seize The Time on AllaboutJazz.com
'Sirota taps out almost imperceptible beats within the beats that you feel more than you hear'
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Seize The Time in All About Jazz NY
"a Chicago quintet advancing ideas promulgated by the politically conscious"
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Seize The Time in Jazzreview
'The first thing you'll notice when you put the album on is the infectious joy that seeps out.
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Seize The Time in Jazz And Blues
"Ted Sirota draws from a wide range of influences to create an interesting spin on post-bop instrumental jazz"
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Seize The Time in Os Place
"Sirota and company get you patting your feet and will keep you pulsing even after the music stops!"
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Seize The Time in Drum Head
" Their music is not just a work of art, it's a weapon to be wielded in the fight against oppression and injustice in today's world"
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Seize The Time in Jazz Times
"incendiary shards of power and light...aggressive and forward-thrusting throughout"
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Seize The Time in Jazz Chicago
"stunning...funky, energy-packed...an appropriate sentiment for these current times."
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Seize The Time in AAJ
"Infused with a stirring rebel spirit, the deft originals, and convincingly realized covers of Seize The Time find Sirota's aptly named band forging ahead into their second decade."
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Sieze The Time in Gapplegate Music Review
"Another smashingly good one from Ted Sirota. Seize the time and get the CD."
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Seize The Time on AAJ
"They uncannily intertwine a good-timey vibe with enviable jazz chops and more."
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Seize The Time in This Is Books Music
"Seize The Time will be the catalyst, however small, towards a better way of living."
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Seize The Time in All About Jazz
"the music is both top rate and engaging."
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Seize The Time in Midwest Record
"this is a great soundtrack for your next radical chic party."
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Seize The Time in Irish Times

"a group with admirably well-conceived wiritng, good soloists and a stirring rhythm section"
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Seize The Time is Jazz Breakfast Disc of the Day
"Guys worth following over the barricades"
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Seize The Time Reviewed in The Guardian

"skilfull arranging and good playing on memorable themes"
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Seize The Time Reviewed in Financial Times

"negotiat[ing] roots-reggae and echoing Americana with conviction and finesse."
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Seize The Time Reviewed in Jazzwise

"liable to frequently glide into a dub or hip-hop pulse without compromising the improvisatory nous of the work"
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Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls in All About Jazz
“beautiful”
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Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls in Jazz Times
“Brimming with bracing ideas…impressive”
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Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls In Hi-Fi +

“there’s a ‘live’ feel to the set that makes it much more enjoyable than most studio fare. Highly Recommended”
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Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls in Hi-Fi +
“highly enjoyable”
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Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls in Down Beat
“immensely satisfying listen…impressive”
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Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls in The Listener
“well crafted and passionate numbers…Sublime”
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Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls in Cadence
“Surprisingly fresh…inspired, adventurous music and is strongly recommended”
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Ted Sirota's Rebel Souls in Jazz Times
“[Ted Sirota's] music jumps out of the box”
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