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CMU Reviews @ London Jazz Festival Festival Reviews
Live Review: Adriano Adewale at London Jazz Festival on 18 Nov
By CMU Editorial | Published on Friday 19 November 2010
It was an absorbing gig, which was some achievement in the busy surroundings of the Royal Albert Hall Cafe Consort at lunchtime, but the calm and quietly determined rhythmic drive of this multinational quartet enchanted and delighted everyone, from astonished three-year olds to discerning pensioners.
The tune ‘Holy The Rain’ at the start of the second set probably contained the most provocative passage with a stunning few minutes from Brazilian Marcelo Andrade on the soprano saxophone, but his performance on flute for the rest of the gig was also charming. Senegalese Kora player Kadialy Kouyate had some special moments and Australian bassist Nathan Thomson was consistently good in the background.
Oddly, the weakest band member was Adewale, who led the band well enough but didn’t seem able to produce a decent individual effort on his pick ‘n’ mix set of drums, cymbals and ceramic pots. Twice he was given the opportunity to demonstrate his abilities and twice he stalled and stumbled his way through an uneventful couple of minutes.
He’s certainly put together a talented band and written some good songs, but from this display, Adewale doesn’t yet have the raw skill to underpin it.
