Further expanding the horizons of modern jazz, Tigran Hamasyan was joined by Norwegian trumpeter Nils Petter Molvaer and the London Vocal Octet to bring about a fusion of the past and present. It is the unpredictable nature of Tigran that keeps his listeners coming back time and time again to his...
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Unrestrained, delirious and other-worldly, The Return is the latest album release from Kamaal Williams. Cruising on the fumes of Black Focus, his 2017 collaboration with Yussef Dayes, Williams launched his newest jazz-fusion solo offering alongside bassist Pete Martin and drummer MckNasty. Despite Williams and Dayes no longer working together, this...
From the first Jamaican rude-boy sound systems of Duke Reid and Prince Buster to Trojan Records of London 1968, ska, rocksteady, reggae and dub sound system culture has thrived in Britain’s black culture and has defined generations and popular trends. A sunny May Bank Holiday saw hundreds take to Peckham Rye...
From the first jazz-solo drum rhythms of David Lessie that opened the show, to the cyclical afro-lead from John Kelly’s guitar, every beat of each song resonated throughout the grooving crowd, and certainly through band leader Mulele Matondo, who I’m sure jived to every single note of the show, constantly...
On Thursday 24th May, Manchester-based hip-hop group The Mouse Outfit played a thoroughly enjoyable set in the simple pub venue Brixton Jamm. The first thing you notice about The Mouse Outfit is their charm; the talented all-male rap group and live band share a lot of love and banter throughout...
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...
Walking into the small, church-like Stanley Halls, one could hear the familiar stabbing-horn sounds of afrobeat emanating from the hall. The venue almost juxtaposed the performance on stage; as one entered, a musical, colourful spectacle erupted from the stage, held together with aged wooden beams and high ceilings. The sound...
A moment occurred during the final stages of The Turbans‘ album launch show at the Islington Assembly Hall which symbolised the entire gig – an image which epitomised almost two hours of wild and well-played music: Oshan ‘Danger’ Mahony, one of the founders of the project, firmly holding and beating...
A one-off performance for a one-off event. It doesn’t happen too often that we get to enjoy a Fatoumata Diawara gig in London, but on the rare occasions when the Malian musician visits the British capital, her shows are always hard-to-forget experiences. That’s how it went on the 26th of...
Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner’s return to London has been a long time coming. More than 300 people attended their gig at the Roundhouse, initially hosting the support band Boogarins. Soft and mild, Boogarins gave a little Brazilian Latin hint to what some might recall as Tame Impala’s resonating vibe....