Serpentine!

“All hail the mighty Revolutionary Snake Ensemble.  They have blessed us with another great record of jazz that you have to dance to, but without losing the complexity and sophistication of the music itself.  There’s some Sun Ra, some New Orleans second line, some Afrobeat, some Zappa, and other mystical ingredients that combine into a musical spell that will envelop the listener.  This is jazz for young and old and new and veteran.” – David Kunian, Curator, New Orleans Jazz Museum; Host, Freaknologist Lunatique, WWOZ, New Orleans

“One of Boston’s favorite brass bands, … thanks to leader and saxophonist Ken Field’s penchant for dazzling compositions and creative arrangements. “Serpentine” was recorded live at Regattabar as part of the RSE’s 35th anniversary in 2024. As always, there are plenty of burning New Orleans-inspired grooves, but also Balkan reflections on the track “Buck,” the contemplative traditional folk song “The Water is Wide” and, appropriately for a band that can play both wild and complex material, a brass band version of Frank Zappa’s “Son of Mr. Green Genes.” And in keeping with the RSE’s activist roots, there’s a tribute to those seeking freedom and peace in “Nezalezhnist,” the Ukrainian word for independence.” – Noah Schaffer, WBUR Guide to New Albums

“Ken Field’s Revolutionary Snake Ensemble have been joining the New Orleans brass band tradition to vanguard jazz, swinging NOLA funk, second-line street music, blues, and much more … A band at the height of their powers … a harmonic sophistication that should be the envy of most jazz and brass band musicians” – AllMusic.com

“Revolutionary Snake Ensemble’s fifth album, Serpentine, is a work that condenses more than three decades of sonic exploration, free improvisation, and commitment to the musical tradition of New Orleans. Recorded live at the Regattabar, one of the temples of jazz in the Boston area, the album reflects the group’s philosophy: spontaneity, risk, and celebration. … Serpentine is a vibrant testament to a band that continues to reinvent itself, with a sound that combines the sophistication of jazz with the energy of funk and the spontaneity of street music. A recording that invites you to dance, reflect, and be swept away by the spell of the Revolutionary Snake Ensemble’s serpentine sound.”
tomajazz.com (original in Spanish)

“A hornucopia of musical styles, served up in a live performance by a group of cats locked into a common groove. Tasty stuff!!” – Tony Baglio, host of NPR station WICN’s New Orleans Grooves