I have the last two albums by Soledad Brothers: Voice of Treason (2004) on Sanctuary Records and The Hardest Walk (2006) on Alive Records. The Alive CD has an enlargement of their drumhead on the back cover, with the band name, the Black Panther Party logo (a panther naturally), and a slogan in Latin: “Libertas Unitas Fraternitas”. The meaning is “liberty, unity, brotherhood” and is similar to the slogan of the French Revolution – Liberté, Equalité, Fraternité (Liberty, Equality, Fraternity) – that remains the National Motto of France.
Each Soledad Brothers album is more inventive and satisfying than the one before. Both of those that I have are excellent albums; “Downtown Paranoia Blues” from the most recent album was an instant favorite. Oliver Henry (Brian Olive) is credited on The Hardest Walk with fuzz piano, tenor and baritone sax, vocals, guitars, percussion, acoustic piano, flutes, and organ. Sadly, Soledad Brothers broke up within weeks of the release of The Hardest Walk.
(February 2015)
