Biography
While the "jam band" tag often conjures the hippie-rock resurgence of the 1990s, the Wise Monkey Orchestra fashions its spontaneous improvisational rhythms chiefly from classic soul, funk, and jazz. The ensemble first assembled in Tempe, Arizona, in 1991 and has revolved around keyboardist Sean Hart, bassist Chad Stewart, vocalist Alley Stewart (née Bratcher, wed to Chad since 1997), and trombonist/flutist Andy Geib, a former Tucson Symphony Orchestra member. Launching their own One Drop imprint, the musicians issued the self-released Time Capsule; shortly after Geib’s arrival in 1994 the group shifted from Tempe to San Diego, issuing their sophomore effort Robot Reality the next year. By the arrival of the third album It’s Alive, a steady stream of horn players, guitarists, and drummers had moved through the ranks. Make Believe, released in 1998, featured guitarist Scott Homan, drummer Ed Fletcher, and conga player/trumpeter Tim Pacheco among its supporting players, while saxophonist Dave Ellis appeared as a guest on the subsequent Pathways. In 2000 the Wise Monkey Orchestra signed with the fledgling jam-band indie Lauan Records, which put out the live recording They Live before year’s end; Ellis returned as a guest alongside guitarist Marty Schwartz and drummer Bruce Stodola. Lauan followed with a limited-edition reissue of Make Believe in 2001.
Albums
