Wise Monkey Orchestra

Most organizations tagged using the label “jam music group” are from the ’90s hippie-rock revival, however the Wise Monkey Orchestra’s freewheeling improvisational grooves pull mostly from classic spirit, funk, and jazz. Originally created in 1991 in Tempe, AZ, the group is definitely focused around keyboardist Sean Hart, bassist Chad Stewart, vocalist Alley Stewart (née Bratcher; Chad’s wife since 1997), and trombonist/flutist Andy Geib (a onetime person in the Tucson Symphony Orchestra). The music group formed its One Drop record label and self-released an recording called Period Capsule; in 1994, shortly after Geib became a member of, they relocated from Tempe to NORTH PARK, and the next 12 months released their second record, Robot Reality. Many horn players, guitarists, and drummers got handed through WMO’s rates by enough time of third record It’s Alive. On 1998’s Make Believe, that helping ensemble included guitarist Scott Homan, drummer Ed Fletcher, and conga participant/trumpeter Tim Pacheco; saxophonist Dave Ellis guested for the follow-up, Pathways. In 2000, the Smart Monkey Orchestra finally struck a cope with the fledgling jam-band indie Lauan Information, which released the concert established They Live later that season; Ellis guested once again, within a lineup that today highlighted guitarist Marty Schwartz and drummer Bruce Stodola. The next season, Lauan reissued Make Have confidence in a limited model.