Sons Of Kemet Produce A Spectacular Showcase At XOYO

Swirling echoes of Saxophone, Tuba, and percussive energy seduced me down the red lit stairs at XOYO on Wednesday night.

Enter a basement of African rhythms and brass, and meet the boys who have brought jazz back to its youthful and rebellious energy! It felt more like descending into a time machine of 1950’s New York, the days where John Coltrane, Miles Davis and Thelonious Monk frequented semi-legal basements of hedonism and B-Bop.

The Mighty Boosh mocked Jazz as being a granddads genre, for boring good boys who’ve lost touch with relevant culture. I often try to remind people of where it came from and who it belonged to. To the loose liberals, open minded beatniks and intellectuals, the criminals and street kids.

Ladies and Gentlemen, if you haven’t already heard of them may I introduce Son’s of Kemet, the boys who’ve bought Jazz back.

 I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the recent winners of MOBO Best Jazz act, for a start I’ve never seen a band with two drummers. The crowd was an eclectic mix of all ages, and social demographics. Very soon into the first song though, the quiet and eagerly awaiting crowd erupted into a wild rhythmic movement and energy.

 After a lifetime of chasing gigs (even travelling to other countries and continents just to see musicians) I can say Son’s Of Kemet are one of the most unique musical experiences I’ve ever had the pleasure of witnessing. I don't recall ever seeing a band who put so much into their sets, they each looked physically drained at the end. Exhausted but smiling. This is not a band “I’d like to see again…” this is a band I WILL SEE AGAIN, AT MY VERY FIRST OPPORTUNITY!

 As Duke Ellington said “there’s only two kinds of music, the good kind… and the other kind”. If you consider yourself someone who likes the good kind, go and see Son’s Of Kemet as soon as you can!

Words by JAM

http://jam-writer-photographer.tumblr.com/  

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