The most compelling music usually comes from the fusion of different cultures and techniques. This is clearly so on Natural Afrodisiac's new CD "The One Is The Three".
Natural Afrodisiac continues to break through the boundaries of Orange County's prevalent punk rock scene with their latest collection of clever, funky, soulful grooves. "The One Is The Three" is a compilation of raw live recordings ("Intimidation", "Feel Your Own", "Tired Eyes") and home studio gems ("Give It Back", "Truckin & Jivin", "These Are The Days" and "Something"). Natural Afrodisiac have succeeded at making a CD that takes you on a journey you hope will never end.
The Orange County-based band showcases the talents of vocalist Jamie Allensworth, saxophone player Paul Clark, bassist Alex Pope, percussionist/vocalist Anthony Gonzales, guitarists Jason Marton and Marjun Advincula, drummer Randy Nicolas and trumpet player Sean Billings.
Over the years, natural afrodisiac's infectious up tempo grooves and vocally charged show stopping slow jams have built them a loyal following in Orange County and beyond. The Orange County Music Awards honored natural afrodisiac with the award for Best R&B Group in 2003 along with awards for Best Jam Band and Best Live Group in 2004. The band has performed with Maceo Parker, Floetry, Everlast, Macy Gray, Sugar Hill Gang, El Chicano, Ozomatli, Herbie Hancock, Eek-A-Mouse, Digital Underground, Los Amigos Invisibles and Dakah. natural afrodisiac is sure to carve themselves a niche with their latest release "The One Is The Three", which features the crowd favorites "Give It Back","Feel Your Own", "These Are The Days" and "Tired Eyes". From first listen, natural afrodisac's universal brand of music will captivate those within an earshot of their eclectic groove.
"The effects of Natural Afrodisiac's homespun brew of funk and soul are spreading. After gaining notice on its Orange County home turf, the multi-racial octet is picking up fans in other cities, including San Francisco, where it made its live debut in September. But even with a growing fan base, it's difficult to sustain an eight-piece band. "We're hustling just to get it together and even just to keep our rehearsal space," says percussionist-vocalist Anthony Gonzales. "I don't think people really see us as a marketable group, but I'd like to have some tour support so we can get our music out there and show we can make it happen." Still, the goods are in the grooves. "The One is the Three," the band's debut, is so accomplished that casual listeners are stunned to learn that it's self-produced and self-released. War is the best reference point, but there are also echoes of Lenny Kravitz and Seal..."
Craig Rosen
LOS ANGELES TIMES - Buzz Bands
"Great things come from Stanton, including funk/Latin/jazz/soul/R&B collective Natural Afrodisiac. After a couple of EPs, we wondered what they'd do with the freedom of a full-length. And now we know: nearly an hour's worth of hot, deliciously danceable jam music by eight guys who could be the spiritual offspring of War, the band that perfected multi-culti aural gumbo. A lot of these songs feel free and fresh-perfect ear candy for breezy, late-summer city park barbecues, let's say-and all are grounded by Jamie Allensworth's emotive, classic soul man's pained howl. When Allensworth starts singing about heartache-even metaphorically, like "the cars that won't get in gear" (or more bluntly, like the moment when he screeches "MY WOMAN, I KNOW YOU DON'T LOVE ME!")-you hurt as badly as he does, because you know exactly how the man feels. You've been to that place before, if you aren't there right now. The high point on these 10 tunes is "Tired Eyes," propelled by a terrific, horn-heavy groove the band might stretch out for a glorious eternity, which they just have to do when they play it live. (On disc, the track comes to an abrupt funkus interuptus somewhere around the six-minute mark, which just wasn't a very cool thing to do.) But we also love "Intimidation," a sonic brushfire spread by conga-slapping hands and bleating brass. And we can't forget the hidden tracks... That alone oughta earn the Natural Afros Stanton's keys to the city."
Rich Kane
OC WEEKLY
"Diversity continues to be the biggest common denominator when it comes to the Orange County music scene. Natural Afrodisiac is among the young Orange County-based acts championing the fusion of funk, blues and soul with solid rock chops interwoven with catchy horn riffs and infectious dance grooves. The band fuses socially conscious themes with heavy rhythms to good effect, but mostly the entire ensemble shines around the strong vocals of Jamie Allensworth."
Robert Kinsler
Orange County Register
"When it comes to creating music, the members of Natural Afrodisiac agree it's about how it feels. Natural Afrodisiac's sound is not only the result of good ideas and rhythms coming out of long jam sessions. The members of the band represent Samoan, Mexican, Filipino and Caucasian backgrounds, and each culture brings something to the music. With this openness to new sounds and diverse cultures, the band has been able to produce a sound rich in throbbing beats, affecting rhythms and funky grooves."
Amy Thomas
Zeal Magazine
"...A new crop of upstarts and seasoned veterans are drawing crowds at clubs throughout Orange County...Natural Afrodisiac's potent brew of funk has garnered frequent comparisons to War...This eight-piece multi-ethnic funk unit has been spreading the love with its own headlining dates, as well as opening for the likes of Herbie Hancock, Ozomatli, Digital Underground and others...[Natural Afrodisiac is among] the current bands to watch."
Craig Rosen
Billboard Magazine
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