Just a moment

The Bays are all about improvisation. Unique 100% improvised sets. No products, no rehearsals. They just play, they are the performance.

The Heritage Orchestra are all about adaptation. They construct inventive covers of eclectic material, it's all honest and fresh.

They played together on the Southbank last Saturday in an unusual improvisation set up. The bays were on the line, excited and exciting. Two composers, for the strings and the brass sections, were writing the score as the concert unfolded, reacting, initiating the moves. The notes unravelling on the screen, mirrored and amplified with some great visuals cut as the show went along. And in the middle the musicians of the orchestra playing on the fly, interpreting and pulsating this truly organic live music.

I feel privileged but also a little weird to talk about it. It's a concert never to be repeated. Just a fleeting moment. Collection of surprise and energy. It's a secret difficult to let you in on.

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Matthew Herbert is perhaps the epitomy of the eccentric english guy, his bulging head struggling to contain his eclectic taste and widescreen inventiveness.

Last night special performance of his big band outfit was unique in having the backing of  volunteer fifty choir from Goldsmith, assembled as on their new album for this concert for the London Jazz Festival. 50 or more, they came with enthusiasm. There was just enough mishaps and unpolished energy to play it raw and real. Each piece started almost incongruously, the brass, the samples, booming voice, the crowd of hands and bobbing heads. This surprising story unfolds before you with strass and sounds. Huge waves of sounds crashing in with jokes and laughter. Standing joy for the audience. Pure bliss.

There's Me and There's You. I only have some video from the 2003 album. But don't listen to my rambles: get hold of the album, or better get out and see them live.

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I am partial to saxophones because I have stumbled and mumbled on the reeds for a few years now. But if there is one solo I am always looking forward to with great anticipation, it is that of the wooden giants of jazz bands. Check this one out: sound is not perfect, editing is not perfect either, but boy is this music filled with joy :) Ladies and gentlemen - Avishai Cohen.

Courtesy of @jfayel for unearthing this gem, check out his posterous. Abrazo!

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Mysterious title? Let me to tell you about the new Rambert Dance Company show from end to beginning.

The last part of the evening was called infinity and also some elements and phrases of the choreography were most impressive, the music simply did not do it for me. Despite the fact that the dancers seemed most familiar with that piece, it did not really resonate with me. With that out of the way...

Two solo pieces formed a Tribute to Norman Morrice (former artistic director of the company), and I really the freshness of both. Imagine for the second one a titillating music married with the soloist trapped in a box of light. As the bars progress, as the cello pushes on piano and violins, the box slowly dissipates into thin air and the dancer grab hold of the space around him sliding and jumping. Then calm and resolute comes back to the center for the cycle to start again. Awesome!

The opening piece of the show was a new commissioned collaboration between the composer Howard Goodall and the Rambert Dance Company. First of, the music was moving and delicious. An original requiem, both the singing and the orchestra were top notch. I loved it. The dancing made my skin tingle, always a good sign, especially the various duets. The only bemol to the whole thing being the appearance of a giant bird-like creature which I did not feel was necessary. Having said that the choreography throughout was inventive, with enough smiles and frowns to leave you stuffed with pleasure. I particularly loved the duet against the giant round mirror that went on to occupy the center of the background. And when the light was revealed... I have said too much already. Go and enjoy Eternal Light! :)

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How best to spend a grim and soggy Monday night? Let me try to answer that by remembering the intimate concert of Astillero in La Negracha.

Tables and chair were laid, 50 odd people in there at best. 7 guys, classic sexteto with a singer, all in black like old school rockers from Argentina, pick up their instrument and deliver some distilled honesty. The musicians were all so lovely, passionate and humble: no concert can survive apathy.

Tango de ruptura. I am not sure what it means but I know what I felt. Music and references showed tremendous respect for the 40s, for Caro, for Pugliese and then for Piazzola. But the music was theirs, the words were not dusty, the energy was from this century. The arrangements were ingenuous and fun. Who said Tango was depressing? I can always feel a certain peculiar brand of joy even when the themes are woven around passionate love and death. Astillero, I cannot wait the day when I will see you in your natural habitat in Bs.As.!

Listen, digest and enjoy, un abrazo!

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Started with a solid Gilles Peterson set with some great brazilian grooves and beats, unfortunately the sound was drowned in the conversations of the public. Full house last night :)

Seu Jorge arrived and he just oozes effortless cool. Big band, big sound, great rythm section: you would expect no less. Special mention to the percussionists and to the harmonica/violin player who was just awesome. The ambiance was one of the best I have seen in the Roundhouse: people getting involved, dancing all around. For the most famous songs like the Bowie covers or Carolina, the crowd was singing wholeheartedly... Remember this is England!?! :)

My favourite moments? Reprise of Cascavel and the energy and good vibes flowing with the 1800 people singing along Mas Que Nada... Seu Jorge: "de como é estar em casa..."

Abracinho!

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If I would have lived in tango as a child, I probably would have said: "when I grow up I want to be like Carlos Gavito". His a way of delicately, tenderly illuminating the feet of his partner: frenadas y sacadas ever appear so delicious. I can try to put more words on this but somehow I think it is almost lacking respect when so much is being said on the floor...

I was always told that silence is the most important word in a jazz improvisation. In my mind Gavito is a master of silence.

"...casi fuimos enemigos por decirme la verdad." :)

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Tonight I went back to a restaurant that used to be a great little argentinian restaurant in Fulham, now revamped into the Kiwi Kitchen. And they got a fan! I had the slow cooked hangied shoulder of lamb layered with kumara and mozzarella on carpaccio of tomato and aubergine: it was rich dish, layers of heartwarming goodness surrounded by delicious jus. Perfect meal for a cold day and the first snow of the season. Yummy!

   

Click here to download:

Kiwi_surprise.zip (1245 KB)

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