"ANCIENTS SPEAK," Melvin Gibbs' Elevated Entity (Live Wired)

Bassist/producer Melvin Gibbs theorizes that the "black continuum," which unifies those in the Western Hemisphere who have African ancestry, has a spiritual component that manifests itself in the music throughout North and South America.

It's a fascinating concept and one he attempts to illustrate with "Ancients Speak," a black-culture melting pot of sound inspired by the all-inclusive music environment of New York City.

Ultimately, his vision proves to be hit-and-miss, with a few disparate elements clearly resisting his mission while most others merge compliantly. However, even the blends that work beg the question: Is this a black thing, or merely the handiwork of a fine producer?

Whatever the answer, "Ancients Speak" is a rewarding ride. Charismatic vocals, elastic funk and a heady rhythm propel the track "Macumba," for example, while penetrating cadence, electronic bubbling, rubbed bass and exclamatory horns congeal on "Mojuba." By contrast, gently persuasive warmth emanates from the introspective hip-hop stroll "Sometimes," and "Os Aguas/The Waters" trips out on synthetic strains.

Gibbs makes his best case with "Eu Cant En Yoruba," which vibrates with electricity and mesmerizing beats as call-and-response chants surely do seem to conjure mystical atmosphere.

Yet when fits of manic vocals perforate the languid, and somewhat deadening, rhythm of "Represent do Rio" and when the shrill guitar of Blackbyrd McKnight (of P-Funk) shreds the lumbering pace of "Sun of Shango," Gibbs seems to be refuting his own theory.

Perhaps the ancients on those tracks just aren't speaking the same language.

Rating: 3-1/2