(Review by Lance)
Burundanga, I learned after the gig, is also the name of a drug said to be used by US criminals who hand out business cards impregnated with the shit to incapacitate their victim. I didn't really need to know this having just been given a card by Sara, the band's manager!
It was true - I did feel incapacitated although that may have been caused by the bottles of London Pride consumed or perhaps the infectious rhythms laid down by the band rather than any dodgy cards.
Burundanga - the band - are a multi-national ensemble, well known around the region, whose music knows no boundaries. Brazil, Cuba, Jamaica, Africa - Reggae, Ska, Hip-Hop, Funk and several other genres entertained the near capacity crowd who danced like Dervishes to the frenzied rhythms.
Many of the songs were familiar but, being sung in Spanish (or some derivative), I couldn't put names to them or the band for that matter!. With a line-up of lead guitar/vocals, bass guitar, drums, congas, timbales/vocals etc the sextet's emphasis was on compelling Latin rhythms and ethnic vocals with few solos although when the lead guitarist vacated the mic. he proved he could handle the axe by soloing with mucho dexterity. This was as close as we got to any jazz but the excitement fermented by the percussionists, augmented as they were by the cocktail shaking bar staff whose work rate matched that of the band, more than compensated for it.
Lance.
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