Post Show: London Jazz Festival 2009

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…

Robert Glasper & Bilal
“Glasper confirmed that he is the most self-assured of the new piano wave, and his trio a template for others”
– Financial Times

Lukas Ligeti
“Lukas was a charmingly modest virtuoso of a musical middle ground between improvisation and composition”
– The Guardian

Carla Bley & The Lost Chords
“one of jazz’s great humourists”
– The Telegraph
“full of irony, mystery, colour, melody, harmony and grooves”
– The Guardian

Cleo Lane, John Dankworth and Friends
“entertaining, varied and accomplished”
– The Guardian

Photograph of Carla Bley: Philip Ryalls