Today, black music is warmth, experimentation, crossbreeding, avant-garde, tradition, and rhythm. Turin’s Jazz Re:Found festival explores these definitions, with a curious and forward thinking vision on music, honouring great names of the past while looking at the most current scenes with a sharp eye and sensitive ear. Spread across seven locations, the festival brought to the city’s dancefloors a rich line-up, representing all genres from hip hop to acid jazz, to soul to Detroit techno.
The festival kicked off on Wednesday 7th, with the British duo, Yussef Kamaal, bringing on stage their very own interpretation of jazz as a perfect blend of UK jungle and grime, with reminiscences of 70s funk-jazz and psychedelia; an hour-long thrilling performance that felt more like a continuous groove than just a concert. Next, followed the performance of hip-hop legend, Grandmaster Flash, introduced by Italian rapper, Ensi. The DJ skillfully swung from hip-hop classics to major contemporary hits, playing only The Message from his personal repertoire. A definitely entertaining act, although not very interesting music-wise.
The awaited act of the Manchester trio, Gogo Penguin, was cancelled the following day, with only three hours’ notice, due to a sudden hospitalisation of pianist Chris Illingworth. It was the second sad announcement for the festival, after the cancellation of the De La Soul‘s show, scheduled on Friday, December 10th. Luckily the gloomy mood was warmed up by the second headliner of the evening, DJ and producer at Ninja Tune, Mr. Scruff, whose four-hour-long, 100% vinyl set made the audience jump to hip-hop, soul, jazz and world music for the rest of the night.
Friday night started off with the energetic act by Italian rap group, Colle Der Fomento, followed by the DJ set of Gilles Peterson, who played two hours of pure musical bliss with his finest selections of music. Swinging from John Coltrane to UK Jungle, from Brazilian sambas to dub and acid jazz, the British tastemaker engaged the audience in a smooth musical journey across the globe. Afterwards, Chicago DJ Sadar Bahar kept the atmosphere light with his perfect blend of funk, disco and deep house for a couple of hours, before diving in the highly rhythmical, African-rooted music of DJ Khalab and Clap! Clap!
The best was reserved for the last day, starting with the live act of James Holden. Set at 7 PM in a small, cosy space, it was clear from the beginning that this would be no usual show of the British techno shaman. The mesmerising sounds of his synths, accompanied by live drums, percussions and winds, turned the performance into an introspective odyssey that left everyone astounded. Two hours later, the godfather of Afrobeat, Tony Allen, played a great concert with his band; unfortunately in an overcrowded room that was way too small to move or see anything.
However, not as many people showed up a few hours late to the closing night in the rather spacious Teatro della Concordia, where Underground Resistance definitely raised the bar of live electronic music performance. The Detroit collective combined techno’s powerful sounds with live improvisation, wonderful saxophone solos and experimentation in a truly memorable show. Ultimately, the sets of Joe Claussell and Japanese house producer Soichi Terada ended the night with a bang.
All in all, the border-breaking vision on music and lots of good vibes are the key elements that make Jazz Re:Found a great festival to mark off on your calendar.
![Album Review: Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela – Rejoice [World Circuit Records; March 2020]](http://www.rhythmpassport.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/allen-masekela-rejoice-620x620.jpg)
With the very recent passing of Tony Allen, this set of recordings has special significance. He and South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela had been planning on making a record together for years and in 2010 this finally was about to become a reality. Producer Nick Gold got the two titans…
Artists: Hugh Masekela , Tony Allen
Tributes and homages to artists who recently passed away often sound trivial or trite if done by someone who wasn’t directly connected with them. That’s why we always repeat the mantra that we prefer to let the music do the talking and ask fellow musicians, who grew up and/or shared…
Artists: Bukky Leo , Tony Allen
For three days and nights there will be a wave of eclectic live music, DJ’s and Q&A sessions across Camden. Ranging from spoken word to dancehall, math-rock to afrobeat – all with an experimental and original flare. The main headliners include Michael Kiwanuka, Róisín Murphy, Kate Tempest, and Mike Skinner,…
Artists: Boko! Boko! , Ed O’Brien , Gilles Peterson , Hot 8 Brass Band , Kampire , Kate Tempest , Kojey Radical , Kokoroko , Melt Yourself Down , Michael Kiwanuka , Mike Skinner , Róisín Murphy , Squid
An inaugural festival is always going to be packed with risk and suspense, and after the downpour that Friday night experienced, a breath was held in anticipation of Saturday’s events. However, it is with sheer delight I report that the proceedings seemingly went ahead seamlessly. Saturday I have to jump…
Artists: Children Of Zeus , Dele Sosimi , Dwight Trible , Etuk Ubong , Gary Bartz , Gilles Peterson , Kokoroko , Lee Fields & The Expressions , Maisha , Rob , Saul Williams , Shabaka Hutchings , Shirley Tetteh , Sons Of Kemet , Steam Down , The Comet Is Coming , Zara Mcfarlane
The glorious Love Supreme returned to the prime Sussex pastures of Glynde for its seventh year, and what a return it was. With such a startling array of talent on offer, it was a mighty challenge to stay in one spot for too long for fear of missing out elsewhere….
Artists: Alicia Olatuja , Allysha Joy , Chip Wickham , Dj Khalab , Ezra Collective , Gladys Knight , Gogo Penguin , Jimmy Cliff , Joe Armon-Jones , Lauryn Hill , Mahalia , Nubya Garcia , Sampa The Great , Snarky Puppy , Tank And The Bangas , Tenesha The Wordsmith , The Teskey Brothers , Theon Cross , Yakul
At times, we are the first to lose track of how many exciting music events happen in London each month, so we have decided to offer you some sort of “public musical service”, meant for all the locals and passers-by, with the aim of suggesting where to listen to some…
Artists: Aar Manta , Afrikan Boy , Ayanna Witter-Johnson , Bcuc , Carleen Anderson , Dj Khalab , Femina , Guts , Isaac Birituro , Isaac Birituro & The Rail Abandon , Jambinai , Judi Jackson , Killah Priest , Kodjovi Kush & Afrospot Orchesta , Nicola Cruz , Nuri , Reginald Omas Mamode lV , Sama , Shkoon , Simo Lagnawi , Skabba , Tarantola , Tenesha The Wordsmith , Terri Walker , The Rolling Shakers , TootArd , Yolanda Brown
If you have attended any of the previous Africa Express shows, you know they never disappoint your thirst for music. For hours and hours, they stun you with a deluge of quality acts and unexpected collaborations, not only featuring the exceptional artistry of the musicians involved but also their welcoming…
Artists: Batida , Blur , Damon Albarn , Django Django , Dobet Gnahore , Ellie Rowsell , Georgia , Joan As Policewoman , Krar Collective , London Community Gospel Choir , Mounir Troudi , ONIPA , Rokia Traoré , The Turbans , Tony Allen
Two weeks to go until the new edition of Jazz:Re:Found. In its past editions, the forward-looking festival has brought to Italy names such as hip-hop pioneer Grandmaster Flash, techno legend group Underground Resistance, funk-jazz Brazilian masters Azymuth and many more. This year’s theme Black & Forth sums up the two…
Artists: Antal , Bugz In The Attic , Dj Khalab , Funk Shui Project , Mos Def , Moses Boyd , Nu Guinea , Tenderlonious
In recent years, Turin has gained quite a reputation in the music world for its electronic/dance-oriented scene, being the host city of Italy’s largest electronic music festival, Club to Club. Nevertheless, the city has much more to offer, with new upcoming events and festivals popping up year after year. One of them is…
Artists: Amadou & Mariam , Bombino , Jeff Mills , Tony Allen![Album Review: Khalab – Black Noise 2084 [On The Corner Records; 20th July 2018]](http://www.rhythmpassport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/khalab-noise-620x620.jpg)
In recent years, a growing number of producers have engaged in exploring the potential of mixing electronic music with music, traditional sounds and field recordings coming from all corners of the globe — giving birth to some of the most interesting records of the decade. Some, like Nicola Cruz or…
Artists: Dj Khalab , Khalab
We’re guilty of rarely venturing too far west in London, but when we do we always live our days up, attending outstanding events and enjoying every minute of it. The 2018 edition of Ealing Jazz Festival was no exception. Despite the blustery weather blowing sand all over Walpole Park and…
Artists: Let Drum Beat , Tony Allen , Vels Trio , Zara Mcfarlane
The sun is shining as people from all corners of the globe – including artists from six continents and fifty countries – come together for this year’s eclectic celebration of world music and dance culture. Families, friends and couples of all ages erect tents, blow up mattresses and boil water…
Artists: Abatwa , Amadou and Mariam , Bcuc , Bollywood Brass Band , Gilles Peterson , Hanggai , Hashmat Sultana , Havana Meets Kingston , Herbaliser , Ian Brennan , K.o.g. And The Zongo Brigade , Ken Boothe , Kokoko! , LADAMA , Leftfield , Maalem Hamid El Kasri , Macka B. , Meklit , My Baby , Orchestre Les Mangelepa , Owiny Sigoma Soundsystem , Rafiki Jazz , Rodney P , Seby Ntege , Tal National , Thievery Corporation , Too Many Zooz
Set in the heart of the Sussex Downs, Love Supreme Festival returned for its 6th year of spreading the gospel of jazz, blues and soul to some 40,000 music lovers. Unless you were the man who told me, bizarrely, that he “doesn’t like virtuosity in music”, you were going to…
Artists: Beat Replacement , Brand New Heavies , Earth Wind & Fire , Elvis Costello , Ezra Collective , Lalah Hathaway , Level 42 , Mavis Staples , MF Robots , Moses Boyd , Nubya Garcia , Steve Winwood , Tony Allen
We already had a thing for DJ Khalab‘s Afro-electro sound… So, try to imagine how thrilled we are to share his futuristic brand-new single and video. The Italian DJ, producer and radio host has recently teamed up with UK alt-jazz wizard Shabaka Hutchings and Tommaso Capellato another offbeat Italian DJ,…
Artists: Dj Khalab
Opening the evening was Mogadisco’s finest selection of African beats, thus setting the scene for the proceeding collusion of cross-border musicians. The left of the stage was set for a legendary Nigerian afro-beat drummer operating with Tony Allen’s full drum kit, whilst the symmetrical spotlight to the right shone upon…
Artists: Amp Fiddler , Mogadisco , Tony Allen![Album Review: GoGo Penguin – A Humdrum Star [Blue Note Records; February 2018]](http://www.rhythmpassport.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/gogo-penguin__1517483127_128.65.101.130-620x620.jpg)
GoGo Penguin is one of those bands that are impossible to define within a genre or a scene. Yet, since their debut in the UK scene with their first album Fanfares, they have come out with their very own signature sound: hearts rooted in jazz and classical training exploring the…
Artists: Gogo Penguin
GoGo Penguin‘s Man Made Object – released on the exalted Blue Note in 2016 – showed merely a peek towards the progressive direction of the trio. The band’s new album, A Humdrum Star serves as a hat tip towards Carl Sagan’s TV series Cosmos, highlighting a phrase which demonstrates just…
Artists: Gogo Penguin![Album Review: Tony Allen – The Source [Blue Note Records]](http://www.rhythmpassport.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/5975f8fee2dfa-620x620.jpeg)
Hot on the heels of his highly acclaimed EP, A Tribute To Art Blakey And The Jazz Messengers, drumming legend Tony Allen returns with his wonderfully crafted jazz LP, The Source. Having never truly explored the genre before, Allen has married jazz with his first love, afrobeat, the results of…
Artists: Tony Allen
The fear across the world that Trump’s ‘extreme vetting’ executive order was a poorly conceived smokescreen to appease an angry, xenophobic minority have been proved once again. After the US consulate initially granted visas to Yussef, Ahmad and Kareem Dayes, they have now been revoked. Between them, they make up…
Artists: United Vibrations , Yussef Kamaal
DJ Khalab brings you to Burkina Faso with a brand new mix saturated with loops, trance and transcendence. The Italian DJ jazzed up the rich Western African country’s tradition with sonorous colour; boosting the psychedelic character of his musical journey. View DJ Khalab bio here Track List: Louo (The Farmer, Bwaba)…
Artists: Dj Khalab
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