London and NYC Club and Concert Listings
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Review: The Shrine - Cargo, London - Saturday 25 October 2003
Writer/Photographer: Marcos Moret
I’m happy. Cargo used to be pretty much my favourite club space in London, putting on as it did an incomparable selection
of imaginatively curated nights, in some seriously pleasing surrounds. But then I went to a few nights (search
News if you
really can be bothered to find out which) that were, to be honest, crap. And, being human n’ all, I couldn’t help read
into this sequence of events that perhaps the place was loosing its edge. Well, I’m happy to say that my faith has been
restored, courtesy of The Shrine, and the trio of DJs/organizers Rita Ray, Max Reinhardt, and Nikki Lucas.
Basically the idea is to explore African music, paying heed to the classics and formative influences, but very much
focusing on exploring the swirling melange of African-influenced music being made right now - the kind of sounds championed
by their Shrine AfroDigital albums. Because Rita, Max and Nikki, being a canny bunch, know that when it comes to packing
a dancefloor the size of Cargo’s, the best way to get those cautious English asses shaking are for the DJs to drop the
familiar sounds of drum n bass, breakbeat, hip hop, 2-step, and so on. But they oh-so-craftily package these sounds with
hefty African elements, analogous to the bhangra and Asian fusion scene if you will. In fact, I hereby invent a new genre
to be annoyingly over-used by music journos everywhere - afro-fusion!
Anyway, we were treated to two superb live performances, somewhat out of line with the above spiel, suggesting that the
musical remit of The Shrine could be widening. Ritmos da Cidade, a UK-based samba troupe, absolutely tore up the place with
barrage after barrage of sambas de feria - those roaring, hairs-on-end, glorious musical inventions that are wheeled out
and revised every Rio Carnival. Now might be a good time to point out that this was all taking place on a Saturday night
- when most clubs pander to the needs of the less-discerning, ‘world music’ shy punter. But here we were with a sizeable
hall full of people revellers.
I thought it relevant to point that out, because the next act up, the MOBO-winning Soweto Kinch, really was an impressively
brave inclusion. You could tell, from the chatting going on from somewhere in the middle of the floor right through to the
bar at thr back, that a lot of punters weren’t all that bothered about hearing jazz - drink and chat were more engaging. But the other
half were feeling it, and we of course wholeheartedly fell within that camp. I might be wrong, but I think Kinch might
have thrown himself into his performance even more aggressively as a result of the aforementioned ambivalence. D-a-m-n.
The man can blow. Electrifying is a good word. Searing is another. I could go on, but the point is that Kinch plays the
saxophone very, very well. For all y’all who were chatting you missed out big time. Then again I guess the point is that
you weren’t entranced because jazz is just not your thing. But damn, you missed out anyway.
Note: The next Shrine is on Saturday 22 November, and is a special Dakar hip hop Shrine, featuring 'Senerap Warriors'
Pee Frois.
PUBLISHED: Tuesday 28 October 2003
RELATED LINKS:
The Shrine - official website.
Cargo
Make It Happen - Jade Fox's new Jazz Cafe night featuring
Soweto Kinch
Buy The Shrine - Afrobeat album at Amazon
UK
|
US
Buy The Shrine - Afrodigital album at Amazon
UK
|
US
Buy Soweto Kinch's Conversations With The Unseen album at Amazon
UK
|
US
More Reviews
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::: RELATED LINKS
The Shrine - official website.
Cargo
Make It Happen - Jade Fox's new Jazz Cafe night featuring
Soweto Kinch
Buy The Shrine - Afrobeat album at Amazon
UK
|
US
Buy The Shrine - Afrodigital album at Amazon
UK
|
US
Buy Soweto Kinch's Conversations With The Unseen album at Amazon
UK
|
US
More Reviews
|
