After Hours - Биография

After Hours is expertly skilled in all flavors of ska. The instrumental "Tropical Bliss" blends latin and ska into fast-moving perfection, while "Mad Hearted Woman" (with Greg Lee providing lead vocals) bounces and jumps into the ska sounds of old, complete with a "Dizzy" Johnny Moore-esque trumpet solo by Elliott Caine. The seductive horn playing found throughout the album is enough to put you in the right kind of mood, especially on "Because" with its laid-back lounge music feel which still manages to skank.

After HoursThe album's opening song "Head In The Clouds" balances swing and ska and showcases great harmony singing from Kincaid Smith and Greg Lee, and lead vocals from Chuck Farrar who works both straight swing vocals and raspy scat singing. One of the countless number of highlights on the album has to be Alex Desert crooning on a ska version of "Almost Like Being In Love," nailing down Frank Sinatra's vocal style with slick organ work from Bradford Pate.

Dub is yet another style that After Hours masters on "The Trouble With Those Guys Is…" with Brian Dixon controlling the dub mixes. The heavy drum of Oliver Charles and Dave Fuentes' bass sounds on "Indecision" are enough to make King Tubby himself proud. The addition of a floating melodic flute played by Brian Wallace, adds an altogether deeper dimension that leaves you longing for more of this combination. If you want to know the quality of a band listen to the way they take on cover tunes. After Hours' brilliantly mellow dub-infused take on Thelonious Monk's "'Round Midnight" travels to new heights with the song. The driving tenor saxophone of Brian Wallace combines perfectly with the upright bass of Brandon Owens, sprinkled with a spaced-out synthesized piano from Bradford Pate.

"The Trouble With Those Guys Is…" breaks new ground in many ways, including the album's ability to blend outstanding musicianship despite all of the different players and singers involved. The output sounds like that of a band who has played together for years. To hear After Hours bust out their rocksteady and reggae stylings is a genuine treat. "Once In A While," a song from the stage show of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," soothes the soul with the sweet and unique voice of Greg Lee, with angelic background vocals from Alex Desert and Greg Lee again. Aaron Owens' jazzy guitar playing strengthens the already soulful mood.

Modern reggae often lacks horn playing which used to be an essential part in the makeup of the music. After Hours answers this discrepancy with a stellar lineup of horns not only throughout the album, but especially on their reggae tunes. "Almost Home" and "Blue Over You" offer upbeat reggae with horn work to accompany the stellar vocals. Chris Murray takes lead vocals on "Almost Home" and Malik Moore gracefully helms the lover's reggae feel in "Blue Over You." If you cannot get enough of "Blue Over You," After Hours provides a dub version to close out their album with a song entitled "Dubbed Over You."

Too many times listening to an album will only provide one or two favorites, but thankfully with "The Trouble With Those Guys Is…" every song hits the right chord and draws you deeper into the album. No matter what musical preference, After Hours takes you there and beyond. Like a sampler plate at a fine restaurant, you get a little bit of everything and all of it tastes so good! The album is at once a classic and at the same time an album you will not stop listening to. It is an understatement to describe "The Trouble With Those Guys Is…" as one of the most solid and creative albums of the recent past.