This event was quite different in structure from a regular jazz concert but the music had enough jazzlike content to be of interest to jazzers, although I didn’t see any jazz people there, though there were some younger folkies.
The hall was set out with tables at the back and lots of room for dancing at the front. The large audience was young, studenty and enthusiastic. The performance began with an electric bass player who introduced himself as Steve - A.K.A. Ojay - working with the DJ, who was literally a lady in red. It was their job to gee up the audience ready for the main band, which they did well with lively body language, various riffs, samples, bells, drones, shouts and minimalist tunes. It’s hard for me to describe this as I’m not familiar with DJ music, but I found it surprisingly pleasant and relaxing. I wonder what form popular music will take in twenty years time? Who could have foreseen what we have today?
Then came the ladies of Hannabiell and MB with the DJ. Ms Sanders and Ms Suriel took the place by storm and soon had much of the audience dancing out front, even myself. This music is described as ‘borrowing from jazz, funk, reggae, afro-beat and Latin rhythms. Tyler the bass trombone (almost human!) soon started up, together with African hand drums, the two- tone agogo bells, African piano (mbira?), shouts of joy, and added sounds from the DJ. It all has to be heard to be truly appreciated. Each piece lasts about 5 minutes and usually builds to a climax. Sometimes it’s just drums and bells, other items were trombone and mbira, all very invigorating. I had to rush for the metro, but a spy told me that the second half was even better, with the full band playing, including more brass, drum kit and bass.
I spent real money, £8, buying the CD – that’s a good recommendation from me!
CD Review: Hannabiell and Midnight Blue. With Us.Hannabiell Sanders ("Tyler" the bass trombone, percussion,mbira, vocal); Yilis Suriel (djembe, mbira, percussion); John Pope (bass); George Magrath (drums); Nate Shaw (keyboard); Mark Edwards (vibraphone); Helen Papaioannou (saxophone); Nuala Kennedy (vocal, penny whistle); Thuli Mazwi (vocal); Ali Gillies (Nintendo DS Sampler).
1: King? Opens with "Tyler" blowing a strong riff with New Orleans
2: Ndlovkazi (The Female Elephant). Very different, a celebration of femaleness, a very ethnic sound with keyboard, mbira, vibraphone, drums and others, African singing, clapping, speech.
3:Triple It: This track lasts 3.13 minutes (get it?) and the music comes in threes, with accompaniment from percussion and vuvuzela only. Very catchy.
4:Tyler's Line. Featuring bass trombone playing a hesitant riff, kit, cow bell and others, speeding up to a climax, a very jazzy track.
5: Protest Culture. This sounds like a protest march with clacking percussion and whistles, a low drum, mostly a rhythmic piece plus melodic snatches of trombone.
6: With Us. The title track features the sweet voices of Thuli Mazwi and Nuala Kennedy singing such words as ‘Peace be with us now’ to a Caribbean style of accompaniment, provided by bass, drums, vibraphone and others.
7: Squid. This track is effective but somewhat disturbing, featuring the words of Martin Luther King played over a drone, with garbled words and distortion. It is dedicated to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the Haiti
The CD is good value, with an average track length of 5 minutes, and an ideal memento of seeing this band live. Catch them and the CD somewhere soon!
Ann Alex.
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