United Dope Front

The United Dope Front, an acid-jazz group that grew out of small clubs in Colorado, is a large band with an ever-revolving cast of members, which collectively, has produced a number of albums since their inception in 1996. By combining typical guitars, sax, keyboards and drums with atypical turntables, they create a unique, contemporary groove/hip-hop sound that weaves from song to song. Without confined limits, each player finds their own spot in the mix, though the primary focus eventually falls to the shoulders of their three original members; DJ Timbuk on the turntables, Javier Gonzalez on guitars, and Ben Senterfit on the sax.

The Liquid Acrobats, released this past April, is technically a follow-up to their 2000 release Constant Elevation, but in maintaining their constant state of flux, aside from the three original members, it’s a whole different band. Like the individual players themselves, each of the tracks on the album has its own groove, and the band does a good job of keeping the listener on his/her toes, leaving you wondering what you’re going to hear next. Yet, as with any surprise in life, sometimes you’re impressed, sometimes not. “Kalakuta Bump” and “5 Days Left” are certain high points, as the Front get an immediate groove on in the “Bump” and then utilize the power of “5 Days” to close the record, subsequently the only tune with vocals. In contrast, “The Acrobat Trilogy” (Acrobat 1, 2, and 3) is the inevitable low point, as the free-form jazz doesn’t mesh well with the rest of the album, lacking the continuity found in other tracks.

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