There are good gigs, bad gigs and gigs that simply blow you away; not least because the end result is so unexpected - that old 'Sound of Surprise' again. Tonight was just such an occasion. An occasion, I have to be honest and admit, that I only turned out for because it was free! I'd vaguely heard of the Grand Union Orchestra but never actually heard them. I heard them tonight alright; it was a night I'll never forget.
Promoted by Hindu Nari Sangh and rubber stamped by the Mayoress of South Tyneside, her Rubenesque charms encased in a sari for the evening, the Grand Union Orchestra gave a performance that left me breathless. Not totally jazz, in fact not totally anything! Imagine Machito linking up with Mingus and Charlie Haden's Liberation Orchestra. Throw in a beautiful vocalist from Bangladesh (Lucy Rahman), a bootiful Aussie tenor player (Louise Elliot), Chris Biscoe doing Johnny Hodges and some fiery trumpet from Claude Deppa and Paul Jaysinha and you've almost got the picture - almost!
Calypso, Reggae and African slave songs went into the mix as well as a rock 'n roll (ish) vocal from tabla player Yousuf Ali Khan and a steel drum happening from Trinidadian, Ken Johnson.
Leader, Tony Haynes, led from the piano occasionally moving over to trombone on some numbers.
Sixteen men and women swinging and just too many moments to remember them all.
This was world music that was out of this world and, not only was it free but there was food for the audience afterwards although I didn't actually stay to sample it! I'm sure it wouldn't be fish and chips.
I'm still up there floating on a cloud.
4 comments :
What a feast, and all for free! You never hear of such value here in York, nor I suspect, anywhere else in this country.
How are these things funded I wonder?
The presence of the Mayoress might be a clue ...
The event was a celebration of the abolition of slavery.
I hear Liz saying; "They haven't abolished it in York!"
That's for sure Lance!
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