Stone Alliance

Stone Alliance is a group consisting, most notably, of saxophonist <a href="spotify:artist:2vT4xpcRUnhG8CHAt2YOJO">Steve Grossman</a>, bassist <a href="spotify:artist:0sKmlpyHCG43bw8Kp92CQs">Gene Perla</a>, and drummer/percussionist <a href="spotify:artist:7C7gHDXEwGrihpfXqOfV3e">Don Alias</a>. Much like <a href="spotify:artist:162DCkd8aDKwvjBb74Gu8b">Weather Report</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:056ewKKC7ayMJeL7y5h2cb">Lifetime</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:1txWOvvuItlRlkB4rM0cUK">Return to Forever</a>, Stone Alliance was in the same vein of the "supergroup" trend of the '70s. The Stone Alliance genesis began in 1964 when <a href="spotify:artist:0sKmlpyHCG43bw8Kp92CQs">Gene Perla</a> joined Los Muchachos of Boston, of which <a href="spotify:artist:7C7gHDXEwGrihpfXqOfV3e">Don Alias</a> was a member. Later, in New York City, through their many "loft" rehearsals, they met saxophonist <a href="spotify:artist:2vT4xpcRUnhG8CHAt2YOJO">Steve Grossman</a> and, with him, established the first version of Stone Alliance. The trio first recorded together on <a href="spotify:artist:2vT4xpcRUnhG8CHAt2YOJO">Grossman</a>'s 1973 solo debut Some Shapes to Come. <a href="spotify:artist:2vT4xpcRUnhG8CHAt2YOJO">Grossman</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:7C7gHDXEwGrihpfXqOfV3e">Alias</a> had spent much time recording and touring together in <a href="spotify:artist:0kbYTNQb4Pb1rPbbaF0pT4">Miles Davis</a>' band. The trio released an eponymous album in 1975 (pianist <a href="spotify:artist:50zRydJXfkLzGIOj9mITfy">Jan Hammer</a>, who appeared with the trio on <a href="spotify:artist:2vT4xpcRUnhG8CHAt2YOJO">Grossman</a>'s debut, helped engineer Stone Alliance). It was released on P.M. Records, which <a href="spotify:artist:0sKmlpyHCG43bw8Kp92CQs">Perla</a> founded. The album featured "Sweetie Pie," famously sampled by rap group <a href="spotify:artist:5BluKKxPvsGLoSVX1IcLIU">Original Flavor</a> for their hit "Blowin' Up da Spot." Stone Alliance was known for its blend of Afro-Cuban and funk rhythms with elements of rock and pop, in addition to the often torrent solos from <a href="spotify:artist:2vT4xpcRUnhG8CHAt2YOJO">Grossman</a>. The band went on to record four studio albums between 1976 and 1980, and released four live albums. Following a European tour, the group broke up but was soon re-formed by <a href="spotify:artist:7C7gHDXEwGrihpfXqOfV3e">Alias</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:0sKmlpyHCG43bw8Kp92CQs">Perla</a>. Other members included keyboardists Mark Gray, <a href="spotify:artist:3fvBGGCTOjiCsIqL3MFU6l">Kenny Kirkland</a>, and <a href="spotify:artist:0ppaiYSgRlCaCQ028u4k5f">Kenny Werner</a>, and saxophonists <a href="spotify:artist:5CSkWcdoRvgBQDwJTZZstJ">Jerry Bergonzi</a> and <a href="spotify:artist:2yKX1WpgVIxOJbwBbFwqQ0">Bob Mintzer</a>. After a long hiatus, Stone Alliance reconvened in the mid-'90s as a trio featuring <a href="spotify:artist:7C7gHDXEwGrihpfXqOfV3e">Alias</a>, <a href="spotify:artist:0sKmlpyHCG43bw8Kp92CQs">Perla</a>, and guitarist <a href="spotify:artist:14QcPG8ksOIzRE3pYt70We">Mitch Stein</a>. ~ Vincent Thomas, Rovi