Sonic Liberation Front

Philadephia’s Sonic Liberation Front (aka Sonic Liberation 8) is a nine-piece group known for their vibrant blend of free jazz, Afro-Cuban rhythms, and funk. The group debuted in 2000 with Water and Stone and have continued to expand their sound on albums like 2012′s Jeway Confidential. They have also collaborated extensively with free jazz saxophonists Sunny Murray and Oliver Lake, the latter of who was featured on 2016′s Bombogenic and 2022′s Justice: The Vocal Works of Oliver Lake.
Sonic Liberation Front formed as the result of a meeting between an Afro-Caribbean band and a jazz band that both shared the services of Philly-based percussionist Kevin Diehl. The group’s sound is built around rolling Caribbean polyrhythms performed by percussionists Nick Rivera, Chuckie Joseph, and Frank “Squirrel” Williams, as well as by percussionist/vocalist Joseph Toledo. Sonic Liberation Front’s jazz musicians, including alto saxophonist Adam Jenkins, tenor saxophonist Terry Lawson, trumpeter Kimbal Brown, and bassist Howard Cooper. Together, they add raucous, Albert Ayler-like free playing, as well as bits of funk and conventional jazz. Diehl divides his time between the two sub-groups, playing both Afro-Caribbean percussion instruments and jazz drum set. He also occasionally programs electronics. Sonic Liberation Front released its first album, Water and Stone, on its own Eye Dog label in 2000.
The group has collaborated on a multimedia piece with Termite TV, and it has performed alongside free jazz legend Sunny Murray. From 2000 to 2002, Sonic Liberation Front frequently played in Philadelphia and New York. In 2011, they showcased their work with Murray on the aptly-titled Sonic Liberaton Front Meets Sunny Murray, compiling a 2002 live concert and a 2008 studio recording. The following year, they delivered the studio album, Jetway Confidential and returned in 2016 with Bombogenic (released under the name Sonic Liberation 8), a collaboration with saxophonist Oliver Lake and a string quartet. Another Lake collaboration, Justice: The Vocal Works of Oliver Lake, arrived in June 2022. ~ Matt Collar & Charlie Wilmoth