★★★★★
Good luck coming up with a category for New Ammo, the first record for Karl Denson's Tiny Universe in five years. The buffed-up octet tosses together the driving grooves of Phish-like jam bands, the itchy spasticity of Downtowners like the Lounge Lizards and James Chance, and the splash-and-stab horn charts and kick-drum funk of James Brown. Twenty years ago, Denson was playing his originals (and a Dexter Gordon cover) on tenor saxophone in a trio with Jack DeJohnette and Dave Holland...
- jazztimes.com
2014-05-02
★★★★★
The cover of the Tiny Universe's new album features a dog with a saxophone in his mouth. It's appropriate, since saxman/bandleader Karl Denson has established himself as a top dog in the acid jazz/funk/jam scene. There's a slew of such bands competing for fans' attention these days, but Denson has been leading the pack since the late 20th century. New Ammo is KDTU's first release on Stoopid Records, a result of Denson's work touring with his fellow San Diegans in Slightly Stoopid...
- www.popmatters.com
2014-03-27
★★★★★
I was a little depressed after listening Brother's Keeper, the latest CD by Karl Denson's Tiny Universe. That's probably not what Brother Denson wants to see as the first line in a music review about his album. He'll be relieved to learn that my blue state of mind has nothing to do with the quality of the music on Brother's Keeper. This 11 track record is excellent. It is one of the best records - beginning to end - that I've heard all year...
- www.soultracks.com
2010-12-07