Tank and The Bangas

Tank And The Bangas – Green Balloon (2019)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 01:05:14 minutes | 688 MB | Genre: R&B
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Verve

There’s no record quite like Green Balloon, and no band quite like Tank and the Bangas. Green Balloon is 17 songs, featuring 75 minutes of roughly 30 creative souls, recorded in nearly 10 studios. They make music without boundary on instruments ranging from sax, flute, cello, vocal scratches, keyboards, synths, real drums, fake drums, a djembe and, of course, the poetry, philosophy, comedy and voice that is Tarriona “Tank” Ball.

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Tank And The Bangas – Red Balloon (2022)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/44,1 kHz | Time – 43:41 minutes | 481 MB | Genre: Pop
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © Verve

New Orleans’ musical melting pot tradition continues with Red Balloon, a kitchen sink record that stretches stylistically from doo-wop to ’70s soul, hip hop to near jazz. While frontwoman Tarriona “Tank” Ball, along with Norman Spence (keyboards) Joshua Johnson (drums) and Albert Allenback (alto saxophone, flute) include new flavors like rapper Big Freedia and second-generation singers Lalah Hathaway and Alex Isley (daughters of Donny Hathaway and Ernie Isley, respectively), the group’s heart lies in creating a Stevie Wonder/Earth Wind & Fire-influenced pop soul groove. Powerhouse live acts like this quartet can have trouble translating their onstage energy in recordings, but here with Ball’s commanding delivery and the band’s obvious chemistry, their exuberance shines through. Recorded at Bangaville Studios in New Orleans and Revival Studios in Los Angeles, the loud, overdriven sound is clearly aimed at reproducing some of their live show’s impact. The recording opens with a twirling radio dial followed by a fast-talking intro from TV personality Wayne Brady before settling into the easygoing soul number “Mr. Bluebell,” which is also the first appearance by guest Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews who’s a welcome presence on the album. Shorty returns on the group’s nod to one of their hometown’s most beloved landmarks, “Cafe Du Monde” where “French Quarters in daytime/ That’s my getaway time/ Oh, how the time flies at Cafe Du Monde.” Allenback’s alto saxophone comes into focus on “Heavy.” And “Jellyfish,” which opens with an intro from DJ Soul Sister, is another slice of slow ’70s soul with layered Ball vocals.

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