Music / afrobeat
The week in Jazz Oct 30 – Nov 5
As a graduate of both the splendid Tomorrow’s Warriors stable and the influential F-IRE collective, pianist Robert Mitchell (Hen & Chicken, Sunday 5) was clearly destined for great things. His musical philosophy is rooted in the power of jazz to convey (and inspire) emotions, rather than as a vehicle for technical trickery – though he is, actually, a formidably skilled player himself. While working in all kinds of other contexts it is his Epiphany 3 project with bass player Tom Mason that has been the most revealing of his musical personality and their recently-released album A Vigil for Justice, A Vigil for Peace has been acclaimed both for the music and Robert’s politically perceptive poetry. The band is completed by drummer Saleem Rahman.
Antelope coming to the Jam Jar
The Jam Jar collective are hoving into view again with a great eclectic triple bill (Thursday 2) headlined by soul-jazz popsters Antelope and supported by Latin-funk outfit Snazzback and the excellent math-jazzers Waldo’s Gift. Of course there’s the usual Thursday hard choice to be made, however, with saxophonist James Morton bringing his urban jazz style to Future Inn and Jazz Cannibals stopping off at the Chelsea Inn (though you can catch their good-time melange of old-school jazz and swing at No 1 Harbourside on Sunday as well).
Eyebrow raising their electronic game
Southville’s tiny El Rincon hosts a couple of treats with both Eyebrow (Thursday 2) and Robado Quartet (Friday 3) likely to pack the place out. Eyebrow’s ambient drum’n’trumpet soundscapes are stepping a little further into the world of electronica if new CD Strata is anything to go by, while Robado is a new project from Kevin Byrne, flamenco and blues guitarist extraordinaire. The band – which also features the saxophones of Jake McMurchie – showcases Kevin’s ever-impressive compositions.
is needed now More than ever
Joe Northwood blowing in from Cardiff
Friday is even more of a log-jam than Thursday, however, with big guns blazing at No 1 Harbourside (ska jazz ‘behemoth’ King Walrus), Southbank (jazz dance big band Portrait of Swing) and the Golden Lion (mighty Afrobeat monsters No Go Stop). All big fun, but maybe the more discerning jazz-lover would do well to head for the Bebop Club to catch Cardiff-based tenor saxophonist Joe Northwood’s Tuk Tuk, a ‘chordless’ trio with Aeddan Williams (bass) and Paolo Adamao (drums) whose debut EP Tuk Tuk reveals some great open playing and a spacious sound.
Phoenician Blinds
Another interesting visitation comes to Leftbank the following night (Saturday 4) in the shape of London contemporary quartet Phoenician Blinds’ intriguing blend of crisp Scandinavian reflectiveness and upbeat post-bop energy. Tom Sochas’ piano is very much to the fore but all four players are impressive on their Elephantine album.
Craig Crofton coming to The Fringe
But, for a proper blast of groove jazz on Wednesday night (1) The Fringe has the Craig Crofton Quartet, a real powerhouse band with Denny Ilett (guitar), Jonny Henderson (Hammond) and Andy Tween (drums) joining Craig’s forceful tenor. That’s a bunch with more chops than Smithfield Market and a fine sense of the fun to be had with a tune and however cold it gets outside it promises to get pretty damn hot in The Fringe’s back room.
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