Alan Law (keys); Antonio Morerro (vocals,
shakers); Darren Millett (guitar) Paul Grainger (bass);
Carlos Rivera (hand drums, snares); Paco
Rivera (hand drums, percussion)
(Review
by Ann Alex/photo courtesy of Debra).
If you’re up for a good time, partying, dancing,
this band is definitely the band for you. I enjoyed hearing them so much that
I’m thinking of taking up cigar-smoking, to make the image complete! They started as they meant to go on, with a
long vamp of South American sounds, piano and guitar riffs, drums, cymbals,
bird whistles, shouts, snatches of song in Spanish/Portuguese (?), the singer encouraging
us to join in, ‘Party, party, si senor’, all climaxing in a general mash-up.
Many bands would have opted for something quiet after all that excitement, but no,
we had more lively sounds, then the flowing piano comes to the fore: - this
review stops for a while as I’m up dancing with Debra, Helen, Jen and Mary,
can’t resist, blame the music!
The piano plays lyrically, the bass then
leads, and the tune ends with a fade-out.
There are now a few sound problems as the
singer can’t hear himself, but nothing can really throw this band, they simply
play on and check the situation, then the sound resumes better than ever, to
the singer’s words of ‘cha, cha, cha, - break for reviewer dancing with Helen,
Mary and Jen, and also Debra moving rhythmically at the sound controls, just in
case it goes again.
The second half opens with bell-like
percussion sounds and a build up of drums, enter the others and a sweet tuneful
piano, solos from guitar and bass, a clank, clank, chock, chock from percussion
to a steady bass drum beating out the pulse of the tune, then a flowing song,
more than just riffs. Audience
participation now, this time a clapping lesson from Carlos, we have to repeat
short clapping rhythms after him, and he chides us when it’s not quite right,
all good fun. Then a tune I recognise, with fine drumming on the snares with
sticks. We dance again, then it’s over
and the Metro calls me home. Quite a night!
Ann
Alex
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