Michael Franti’s politically minded group The Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy featured guitarist Charlie Hunter on
a number of tracks.  When picking up new albums by Franti and Hunter on the same day recently, it felt like a good time
to look back at the Orwellian and current relevance of Franti’s work with Disposable Heroes, Hypocrisy Is the Greatest
Luxury.  It may have been recorded in ’92, but it’s more contemporary than ever when looking at the world thru the
looking glass of current newspaper headlines.  In “Language of Violence,” Franti tried to educate against hate crime.  
He advocates against what some say Buju Banton advocates for.  Hypocrisy also featured a cover of the punk and
political Dead Kennedy’s classic, “California Uber Alles.”
      The song, “The Winter of the Long Hot Summer,” was a scathing commentary against George H. W. Bush’s war in
Iraq.  Today, the sequel plays out with W. vs. Saddam, and it has already cost billions more to make and has no known
finish.  In “Winter,” Franti refused to be silent and called out those who were: “We waited for Congress to speak up
illegal buildup/But no one would wake up/Our representatives were Milli Vanillis/For corporate Dallas Cowboy Beverly
Hillbillies” The song is relevant once more.  
      “Television the Drug of a Nation” was as classic to media watchdogs as Gil Scott-Heron’s landmark “The Revolution
Will Not Be Televised” was to wide minded 60’s people.  Franti’s song was like a soundtrack to those who read books
like The Media Monopoly and pleaded with people to wake up to what Fox and Clear Channel have now accomplished.  
Franti called out TV as the most dangerous drug.  He’s still saying it.  Franti sang then, “maybe the mother of our
Nation/should remind us/that we are sitting too close to…” However, the First Lady of our Nation is related to the guy at
Fox who called the 2000 election for her husband.  A guy on the board of directors of Clear Channel was among those
who bought the Texas Rangers from George W. Bush.  In ’92, Franti cried out against television “breeding ignorance
and feeding radiation.” George Bush vs. Saddam Hussein was on screen then too.  Fortunately, Franti is still fighting
too.  
     
Charlie Hunter Trio-Friends Seen and Unseen (Ropeadope Records)

      Charlie Hunter always puts out strong material, but Friends Seen and Unseen is one of the most compelling and
lively jazz albums in quite a while.  It’s a bright spot in an already shining career.  It’s fairly straightforward, but plenty
fresh.  For jazz heads longing for a recording with the skill of legend, but being made by a virtuoso that isn’t long gone,
Hunter does just the trick.  Often a great new jazz record isn’t better than buying a remaster of some Lee Morgan or
Thelonius Monk or the avalanche of great sounding classics that call from the bins of Borders or Tower Records.  Jazz
heads who hear those calls can’t go wrong with Friends.  This one should offer many repeat performances.  
From the ease in of “One for the Kelpers,” Hunter strums along with the horns of John Ellis and the drums of Derrek
Phillips, thru a relaxing and serpentine trip.  These ten mood lifters aren’t quite as strong as a cup of coffee, but they
are a lot better for the body and mind.  It is good to the last drop.  While no track is longer than seven minutes, this trio
digs in during the time spent on bouncy numbers like “Freedom Tickler” and “Bonus Round” to ease and please.  The
players go deep, making the hypnotic journeys seem longer than the actual running times.  
These quickies aren’t that tricky, but they take care of business.  On “Freedom Tickler,” Hunter solos with a plucking
intensity that would make Grant Green wowed and proud.  “Lulu’s Crawl” shuffles slowly like the title indicates, with
Hunter playing a crazy, folding blues as Phillips provides a slow galloping accompaniment and Ellis provides some wild
brass sound.  “Darkly” gives an eastern feeling, ala Coltrane’s version of “My Favorite Things” aided in that vibe by Ellis’
fantastic flute playing.  Worth the price of admission for that alone.  Great titles like “Running In Fear from Imaginary
Assailants” and “Eleven Bars for Gandhi” are not wasted on the track they accompany.  All in all, Friends Seen and
Unseen is worth hearing and hearing again.

www.ropeadope.com
www.charliehunter.com

Michael Franti-Songs From the Front Porch: An Acoustic Collection

      Michael Franti’s mellow and uplifting new cd, Songs From the Front Porch: An Acoustic Collection, feels like what
Bob Marley might be doing if he were around today, the music that Richie Havens still makes.  This is earthy,
peaceloving music.  Franti should certainly appeal to the community of people who snatch up the new releases of Ben
Harper or Jack Johnson.  Franti’s music falls into that wonderful place where hip meets hippie.  Franti has had many fine
moments in groups, like Disposable Heroes or Spearhead, but he’s never been in finer voice or spirit than here.  
Like an old, reliable car that has a lot more miles left in it, Songs From the Front Porch should go the extra mile.  This
acoustic collection contains a number of songs from Spearhead’s 2001 album Stay Human.  “Sometimes” is so beautiful,
with acoustic guitar picking that delivers all the longing and melancholy of Simon & Garfunkel’s “The Sound of Silence,”
but also bumps with voice and a tap to the guitar to make it all Franti, and all good.  
On an acoustic version of “Stay Human,” Franti sings “if television is the drug of a nation/satellite is immaculate
reception.” Besides some specific songs from the past popping up here, so do familiar Franti themes.  With Disposable
Heroes he sang about TV as a drug, and with Fox News and sleeping newspapers, Franti still sings of the effects on the
mind of the device he called “the methadone metronome.” For those who fear what the TV has done to all of us, the
acoustic comforts of Franti’s record will be asked to come beyond the front porch and into the mind.  This is the record
this world needs right now.  Thanks Michael.

www.spearheadvibrations.com