PREVIEW - OZOMATLI
Islington Academy
OZOMATLI have a new live CD and DVD out next week – so what
better time to remind us how downright brilliant they are than a
mouth-watering London gig?
Every album they have released so far has been a corker, melding
the hip-hop essence of Jurassic 5 with top-notch Latin percussion.
Their debut album is now seven years old but it is still a favourite
on the Grooves gramophone for such classics as Super Bowl Sundae
and Cut Chemist Suite.
And their live gigs are good value too. At one gig at the Jazz Café
in Camden Town, they led the audience in a conga dance around the
block. This time, they dock at the Islington Academy – so if
you are passing down Upper Street on Tuesday night, look out for
the wide-smiling gang leading the party through the night.
A sweat gesture
PREVIEW - VANDROSS TRIBUTE
Jazz Café
SOUL Heaven, that mystical place in the clouds where Nina Simone
plays chess all day with Barry White and Joe Tex, admitted another
legend through its pearly gates last month.
The sad loss of Bronx-born Luther Vandross came as a shock to anyone
whoever threw shapes to his disco classic Never Too Much.
The 54-year-old’s funeral was a who’s who of soul and
R’n’B as Aretha, Alicia Keys, Usher, Stevie Wonder and
Patti LaBelle paid respects to their buddy.
Now, Camden Town has its own chance to pay tribute to the velvet-voiced
singer with Omar, once considered Britain’s best soul act,
rounding up his pals for a special night at the Jazz Café.
He will be joined in the famous Parkway club by up and coming soul
singers Chris Ballin, who hails from Nottingham and sounds eerily
similar to Luther, and Noel McKoy who once fronted The James Taylor
Quartet. Completing the gang is Tony Momrelle, whose slick 1990s
album Freetime is becoming hard to find but a worthy addition to
anybody’s nu-groove collection.
The line-up might not be Stevie or Aretha, and Alicia Keys isn’t
going to fly in at the last minute, but few can argue with the sentiment
of the evening. Luther was a genuine talent – and this noble
celebration of his life should be worthy of his memory.
• Luther Vandross Tribute at the Jazz Café on August
28. £17.50. Advance booking. (Camden Town Tube).
Norwegian rhythm
CD REVIEW - RALPH MYERZ AND THE JACK HERREN BAND
Your New Best Friends (Emperor)
ONE of the dance records of the year, you don’t have to
be into the boom-boom-boom music that the young people play to dig
Ralph Myerz and the Jack Herren Band.
There are so many good reasons to buy this album but try album track
L.I.P.S.T.I.C.K. for starters. What begins as an ice-cool dose of
electronica explodes with Cerrone-sampled strings and a ridiculous
but infectious chorus which chants: “Stick Around, I’ve
Got Lipstick On.” Not sure what it all means, but it sure sounds
good. Fans of first long-player A Special Album (what do you mean
you haven’t got a copy? Where have you been?) will love this
lovingly-produced follow-up. Full marks to the Norwegians.
CLICK HERE FOR LISTINGS
Cornwall’s rising star
PREVIEW - DANIEL TONG
St Martin’s
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THERE are so many pianists competing for attention on the
international stage, it can often be difficult to know which ones
are worth keeping an eye on and which ones are not.
Daniel Tong, 31, from Cornwall, is definitely one to watch carefully
after a glittering early career that has included performances
at the Wigmore Hall, St John’s, Smith Square, the Aldeburgh
Festival and the Purcell Room.
And this week he appears at St Martin-in-the-Fields presenting
a Beethoven Piano Fantasie, a collection of Mozart, Beethoven
and Schumann pieces.
The concert includes the Moonlight Sonata, particularly famous
for its sombre, almost romantic first movement.
It is a deceptive piece to play.
Ostensibly it appears a relatively straight forward work to master,
but such is its delicacy it requires a pianist of great control
to truly master the piece.
Maintaining the tone, and timbre of the work is the great challenge.
The concert also includes several fantasies, by Mozart and Schumann,
and the fast technical work will no doubt be mastered by Mr Tong.
The true test is whether he can manage the slow, moving pieces
– then his true critical judgment can be assessed.
Ensemble action
PREVIEW - NLSO
St Martin’s
ONE of London’s most exciting ensembles perform at St
Martin-in-the-Fields this week in a special Baroque Festival.
The New London Soloists Orchestra, directed by Ivor Setterfield
since its debut in 1992, includes a variety of some the best young
musicians in London and it should be an entertaining performance
at the church.
Ivor Setterfield is developing quite a reputation for his conducting,
working with London’s largest choirs Barts Choir, as well
as orchestras and a variety of soloists. The programme here concentrates
on Bach, beginning with Brandenburg Concert No. 3, and four other
pieces by the Baroque master are included.
There is also the Air in G, the Violin Concerto and his wonderful
Adagio for Oboe and Strings.
The acoustics of St Martin’s are wonderful and is perfect
for chamber concerts like this.
Soho jazz night
PREVIEW - RACHEL MORE
Spice of Life, Soho
FOR those who are looking to find something a bit different
during the summer, they could do worse than head down to the Spice
of Life pub in Soho for an evening of jazz on Wednesday.
For the vocalist Rachel More is performing in the basement bar
and she will be lending her soft, crisp tones to proceedings.
Over the past couple of years she has developed quite a reputation
having performed at the National Theatre, the Wandsworth Jazz
Festival as well as with Jamie Cullum and Laurie Holloway. For
this concert she will be joined by the Gunther Kyermayr Trio.
It begins at 8pm and tickets cost £5 and £3.
CLICK HERE FOR
LISTINGS
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