Sunday, June 26, 2011

A great week of music...

Just ended a great week of concert-going in London, the sort of week that makes me glad to live and work here so that I can see such amazing music. Not trying to boast or anything, but check out this schedule for the past seven days:

Saturday 18th June - Feis festival in Finsbury Park headlined by 70-year old Bob Dylan who was in terrific form, the best I've seen him for a while, full of energy and enthusiasm, with a good sound system so we could hear him clearly. Also on the bill were Shane MacGowan, Christie Moore and Afro Celt Sound System. Phew!

Sunday 19th - Mopomoso at Vortex, headlined by stunning trio of Maggie Nicols on voice, Mia Zabelka on violin and John Russell on guitar.

Tuesday 21st - Ravi Shankar at the Barbican, 91 years young and on a tour to celebrate his tenth decade. He is as vital and awe-inspiring as ever. Words can't do him justice, but sounds and images can:


Wednesday 22nd - Keith Rowe solo at London Review Bookshop. Great to welcome him back to London. Throughout this year he is playing Treatise to mark the 75th anniversary of Cornelius Cardew's birth. Tonight he used page 68 and also Christian Wolff's Edges as starting points for two intense sets.

Thursday 23rd - Volunteering at Vortex where Evan Parker, John Edwards and Tony Marsh played two superb sets, all three on top form especially John.

Friday 24th - Weekly visit to the Workshop, only thirteen players there (compared to 26 a few weeks ago!) so played duos then trios and a final round of "nominated" quartets. Very satisfying, as there was more time and space for each player to do more playing than usual.

Saturday 25th - Almost felt part of a continuum with Friday. In audience of 8 at Arch 1 in West Ham seeing the trio of Workshop members, Sum (Eddie on drums, Seymour on sax, Ross on guitar), play a fascinating jazz-inflected set that contrasted with their usual style of playing at the Workshop.

Forthcoming - Monday night is the monthly Workshop night at Cafe Oto. Next Saturday, July 2nd, in Whitstable, Evan Parker's annual Unwhitstable festival. Both mouth-watering propects.