Photos, reviews and tweets from the closing show of the 2009 London Jazz Festival featuring a unique on stage collaboration between elder statesmen of German electronica, Cluster, and Chicago jazzy post-rock pioneers Tortoise.
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Filed under: Electronic, Jazz, Rock & Pop, Post show | Tagged: Dieter Moebius, Hans-Joachim Roedelius | 5 Comments »
The London Jazz Festival came to a close on Sunday night with a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration between Chicago post-rockers Tortoise and Krautrock pioneers Cluster, during which Tortoise’s jazz-inspired rhythms jostled alongside Cluster’s atmospheric electronic tones. This unique moment capped off what has been one of the most diverse London Jazz Festival line-ups yet, which has included the a cappella talents of Naturally 7, the smouldering tones of Madeline Peyroux, Tropicalia legend Gilberto Gil and much more.
Here’s a few reviews from the festival in case you missed it. Can’t wait for next year’s now…
Filed under: Jazz, Post show | Leave a comment »
One minute Taha is spitting and growling his lyrics over a thunderous Bo Diddely riff, the next he is moving on to an Algerian dance tune dissected with bursts of heavy-metal guitar.
– Robin Denselow, The Guardian
Filed under: Rock & Pop, World, Blues, Post show | Leave a comment »
Southbank Centre Artist in Residence and beatboxing boundary-pusher, Shlomo, will deliver the first performance of his new BOXED project with the Vocal Orchestra January 7-8 and we’ve got an exclusive pair of backstage passes. The lucky winners will get a sneaky look at what goes on behind the scenes and of course some money-can’t-buy shmoozing opportunities.
BOXED features the voice boxes of a 10-strong cast performing jaw-dropping vocal routines and tunes spanning the musical spectrum from hip hop to jazz to drum n bass and opera – it’s not to be missed!
“This show will be like beatboxing’s answer to Stomp, Blue Man Group and Into the Hoods.” says Shlomo. “I can’t tell you how excited I am about it!!”
All ticket holders for the Friday 8th January performance will be automatically entered into a prize draw to win the backstage passes for the Purcell Room performance on 8th January 2010.
Find out more about the event and book tickets
More about Southbank Centre artists in Residence
Watch video of Shlomo and the Vocal Orchestra perform Massive Attack’s classic “Teardrop”.
Filed under: Upcoming Gigs | Tagged: Beatboxing, Massive Attack, Vocal Orchestra | Leave a comment »
We’re only half way through the London Jazz Festival in association with BBC Radio 3 but already we’ve had great shows from the likes of John Scofield, Tomasz Stanko, Roberto Fonseca and Melody Gardot. Still to come are John Surman, Gilberto Gil, Cleveland Watkiss, Cleo Laine & John Dankworth, a special show with Tortoise and Cluster to close the festival, and much, much more.
If you want to find out more about the festival, you can now download an iPhone app here and a BBC Radio 3 widget here. Both are free and both give you more info on all the happenings at the Festival this year.
And talking of something for nothing, there’s also a wealth of free gigs coming up including the Hammond-fuelled neo-prog jazz of Troyka, Scotland’s virtuoso trumpeter Colin Steele and the next instalment of Trouble Tune featuring dubstep innovator Appleblim. Check out what’s still to come at Southbank Centre here.
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Next Monday Lisa Hannigan plays a much anticipated Royal Festival Hall show – check out our preview post for more info.
To get you in the mood for the show we are pleased to be able to offer you a free MP3 download of new track ‘Sea Song’ from her new record released this summer Sea Sew.
Lisa Hannigan – Sea Song (MP3)
Full details of the collaboration have not yet been revealed but we’ve been told that more than just providing a supporting set for Tortoise at their gig this Sunday, Krautrock legends Cluster will perform together with the Chicago jazz-rockers in a unique on stage collaboration.
For more info about the Tortoise + Cluster show and a free Tortoise download check out our preview post from earlier in the month.
Filed under: Electronic, Folk, Rock & Pop, Upcoming Gigs | 1 Comment »
“This song contains elements of sadness and melancholy a bit like my agent’s face when I told him I wanted to do a banjo tour” – Steve Martin
Filed under: Folk, Post show | 1 Comment »
Playing a politically-engaged mix of Rock and Raï, collaborating with the likes of Patti Smith, Mick Jones and Robert Plant, hailed by musicians and critics alike – Rachid Taha is one of world music’s true superstars.
Famous for re-claiming Western rock, Taha has performed Arabic language versions of The Cure’s ‘Killing an Arab’ and The Clash’s ‘Rock The Casbah’, here’s Taha playing ‘Rock el Casbah’:
‘A feisty new African guitar hero… consistently excellent’ – The Times
Vieux Farka Touré’s wiry desert blues bridges the gap between Western rock and his Saharan roots, creating the music of a contemporary Africa: sophisticated, modern but deeply connected to its heritage.
Vieux Farka Touré will be joined on stage by saxophonist Alfred ‘Pee Wee’ Ellis , a principal member of James Brown’s band in the sixties he arranged and co-wrote hits like ‘Cold Sweat’ and ‘Say It Loud – I’m Black and I’m Proud’, and has since worked extensively as the arranger and musical director of Van Morrison’s band.
Following Rachid Taha and Vieux Farka Toure’s gig at Royal Festival Hall, the party continues at The Clore Ballroom with a special free post-show gig featuring Ethio-jazz legend, and star of the Ethiopiques series, Mulatu Astatke performing with psych-Afro-jazz collective The Heliocentrics.
Filmaker Jim Jarmusch reportedly became so enamoured with Astatke’s music during the production of his 2007 comedy Broken Flowers that he wrote-in an Ethiopian neighbour for Bill Murray’s lead in order to incorporate Astatke’s music. Here’s the trailer for the film which opens with Astatke’s ‘Yegelle Tezeta’:
Due to unforeseen circumstances Mulatu Astatke will not be performing tonight. However, there will still be a full programme of free music tonight from 10.20pm in The Clore Ballroom, featuring The Heliocentrics, Afrikan Boy, and A.J. Holmes & Vamanos (Secousse Sound System).
Also performing at the free post show gig is M.I.A collaborator hotly-tipped Nigerian-born afro-grime MC, Afrikan Boy http://www.myspace.com/afrikanboy. Followed by a DJ set from new afrobeat pioneers A.J. Holmes and Vamanos (Secousse Sound System) http://www.myspace.com/secousseclub.
Book tickets for this incredible night of music at:
http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/find/music/gigs-contemporary/tickets/rachid-taha-and-vieux-farka-toure-49489
Filed under: Rock & Pop, World, Blues, Upcoming Gigs | 1 Comment »
Southbank Centre Staff Review
In the 3 years since Simphiwe Dana’s London debut there has been an evolution in both her sound and that of her group. On stage tonight at Queen Elizabeth Hall Dana herself hints at the journey she has taken to arrive at the rich, lush and diverse soundscape she is now firmly the pioneer of. Her confident presence and mood suggests she has fought an artistic battle over the last 3 years and emerged victorious having secured the luxury of touring with a hand picked group of musicians fully capable of carrying out Dana’s vision.
Filed under: Jazz, World, Post show | 6 Comments »
The culmination of a spellbinding UK tour, Devon Sproule treated fans to Hallowe’en concert of gorgeous songwriting – mixing Appalachian folk with jazz melody with a natural easy charm.
We’ve a beautiful set of images to share with you from the evening courtesy of photographer Philip Ryalls.
Filed under: Folk, Post show | 4 Comments »
Gigs Community | Southbank Centre 