Album Notes

TruGROID Records proudly presents Burnt Sugar's new double CD
"Black Sex Y'all Liberation & Bloody Random Violets" - their most diverse and opulent recording to date. representing their sixth studio release in four years, the collection features key contributions from Vernon Reid, Vijay Iyer, Butch Morris, Pete Cosey, Tamar Kali, DJ Mutamassik, Omega Moon and Kirk Douglas of the Roots.

Under the baton of conductor and writer Greg Tate, Burnt Sugar has evolved from a midnight jam between friends in CBGBs basement into an internationally renowned performing and recording ensemble. Made up of some of the most virtuosic,adventurous and innovative talent on the current New York scene, Burnt Sugar the Arkestra Chamber has provoked critics to some of the most rapturous and poetic praise seen in recent times:

"A multiracial jam army that freestyles with cool telekinesis between the lustrous menace of Miles Davis' On The Corner, the slash-and-om of 1970s King Crimson, and Jimi Hendrix' moonwalk across side three of Electric Ladyland."
- David Fricke, Rolling Stone.

"Its electric Miles with soul, Maggot Brain with a PHD, the Hendrix Evans band of dreams, the underwater funk some hear in A.R. Kane."
- Robert Christgau, The Village Voice.

"Guitarists Rene Akan, Morgan Craft and Kirk Douglass manage to sound massive yet patient; not at all how you'd imagine the typical three guitar cockfight."
- Hua Hsu, The Wire.

"Burnt Sugar aptly summoned the spirits of chaos and order to sublime effect, unleashing a ferocious performance that left many listeners speechless and others cheering for more."
- John Murph, Jazztimes.com

"Burnt Sugar come on like a birthing machine for possibility. Never quite sure what they'll produce next - you'd be crazy to ignore them. Impossible to disregard anyway, they come on irresistibly, loud, hectic, wild..."
- Colin Buttimer, The BBC

"The sharp display of talent at Symphony Space's Wall To Wall Miles tribute was complimented by Burnt Sugar's expansive freeleaning set. Led by Gregory Tate, this enormous band incorporated whispered vocals, whistling, dulcimer, and more, held together by the funky bass playing of Jared Michael Nickerson."
- Ann Powers, The New York Times.

"It's intelligent, carnal, spiritual and shows a textural awareness altogether missing from way too much black music right now."
- Peter Shapiro, The Wire

"Burnt Sugar is a musical all terrain vehicle... a smoldering concoction of sounds which teeter dangerously on the edge and shelters the spirit of a post 'Bitches Brew' Miles Davis."
- Sunil Chauhan, Straight No Chaser