one percent away | django #1 | magnum jazz combo | django #2 | i.v. dogs | magnum family | lag
animal liberation orchestra #1 (iv) | blag buffet | alo #2 (sf) | alo #3 (current)

What is the Animal Liberation Orchestra?

A.L.O. is a bohemian jazz, funk and soul band dedicated to the liberation of the human spirit. They will open your mind, free your body and make you smile all at the same time. Drawing on influences from Charles Mingus to Steely Dan, James Brown to Spinal Tap, Randy Newman to Franz Kafka, A.L.O. employs a variety of styles taken from all over the world including jazz, blues, rock, funk, soul, bluegrass, mariachi, and other continental styles from the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America. The end result is "a cross-cultural, gut wrenching, cosmic groove" fueled by horns and a band, fiery vocal lines and sweet harmonies, two fighting cocks, collective improvisation, an occasional accordion and a bongo drum.

Where did they come from?

A.L.O. was hatched in the most densely populated square mile west of the Mississippi, a notorious beachfront college town known as Isla Vista… a town where greedy landlords and oppressive police officers use their power to destroy the will of the people and ban live music. It was from this atmosphere that the Animal Liberation Orchestra arose. A.L.O. has since migrated up the west coast to the San Francisco Bay Area.

What are their credentials?

Throughout their various exploits, the musicians of A.L.O. have had the pleasure of working with some of the world’s finest musicians: James Brown, Wayne Horvitz (organist, John Zorn), , Charlie Hunter, Ozomatli, Buddy Miles, The Gluey Brothers, The Roots, Bobby McFerrin and his Voicestra, Cornelius Bumpus (sax, Steely Dan/Doobie Brothers), Dale Ockerman (keys, Zigaboo/ Doobie Brothers), Zigaboo Modeliste and his Aahkkestra, George Porter (The Meters), David Grisman Quintet, Netwerk: Electric, Robert Walter's 20th Congress & Karl Denson's Tiny Universe (Grey Boy All-Stars Side-Cars) Vivendo de Pao, Vinyl, Royal Crown Revue, Zoya and Sattar (Persian superstars), Richard Hagopian, as well as hundreds of other not-so-well-known-but-equally-wonderful musicians and artists.