Havana Cultura Live @ The Sage, Gateshead.

Danay (vcl), Ogguere (Ulises & Edrey) (vcl), Roberto Fonseca's Band (Fonseca, piano, + alt/fl, tpt, bs, dms, congas. Gilles Peterson, Dhesi (DJs).

If I say I'm off to the travel agents in the morning to book a ticket on the first flight to Havana then you may get an idea of what an experience tonight was!

Of course I'm not going to Havana tomorrow but, after tonight's music, I certainly wish I was.

This was The Sage, Hall Two, in stripped down mode with diffused lighting patterns and smoke machines creating an ambience.

DJ Dhesi got the party under way with some Caribbean grooves that soon had the standing audience twitching in time to the beat. Close your eyes and you're on Havana's 23rd Street.

Gilles Peterson took over at the console and introduced Ogguere, Danay and Roberto Fonseca's Band. We were off.

For once words fail me - to say I was knocked out sounds like mere cliché - this was territory way beyond my comfort zone but it got my juices flowing.

Hadn't a clue what Danay or Ogguere were singing about but it was as hypnotic as the Cuban rhythms.

Danay is the most enigmatic singer I've ever heard. One moment it is almost a folksy ballad - next thing you know it is Rock 'n Roll Cuban style.

Ogguere comprises Edrey and Ulises who are a Cuban Hip-Hop version of the Blues Brothers. When they perform I defy anyone's heart to drop below a zillion beats a minute.

Down on the floor and up in the seated gallery there was a whole lot of shakin' going on

Fonseca played some jazzy Cuban sounds whilst the flautist whose name was lost in the musical maelstrom had a superb feature. Trumpet too blew in that fine old Cuban tradition.

Rhythm section cooked up a musical gumbo that melted your toenails.

Afterwards, the party spilled out on to the Concourse where the DJs were stoking up the Cuban Fire and the dancers gave out with the appropriate movements. How I wish I'd learn't to Cha-Cha!

It was all in all a rather beautiful night - I think my pulse is just about back to normal.

"Hello, is that Thomas Cook? I'd like a flight to Havana - that's right, the one in Cuba..."

Photos.

Lance.