Crowds enjoying the vibe at the Jazz Cafe Festival, 2024, in London. — Image by ©Tim Sandle
Jazz Café is an iconic London venue that has been showcasing some of the best jazz, soul, hip hop, electronica and other related artists for many years. In 2024 the London Camden based venue organised its own festival, with the event having taken place at Burgess Park, in south London on September 15th.
Four stages were used to bring the specially curated programme to life, each broadly thematic in terms of genre. Digital Journal’s London-based reporter took in the vibe and a selection of the artists performing.
Buena Vista All Stars
The Buena Vista All Stars played on the main festival stage. The group are the musical heirs and successors of the renowned Buena Vista Social Club. The hour-long set transported the crowd along a musical journey – travelling from the streets of Havana to a concert hall packed with enchanting rhythms.
The group is led by Ibrahim Ferrer Jr., son of Buena Vista Social Club’s golden-voiced singer, together with some of the original members of the pioneering group, plus a dozen Cuban musicians.
The exquisite numbers performed included Chan-Chan, Dos Gardenias, and El Cuarto De Tula.
Omar Souleyman
The complexity of rhythms continued, although this him at higher energy, with a set from Omar Souleyman. The Syrian artist produces a modernized version of the traditional dabke.
Soichi Terada
Soichi Terada is a Japanese electronic music composer, perhaps best known for his work in the Ape Escape video game series. Terada gave a thrilling set, influenced by house and hip-hop styles.
Arc De Soleil
Arc De Soleil are a guitar based band, led by composer, producer and multi-instrumentalist. Daniel Kadawatha. The set was solid and punchy, mostly instrumental and demonstrating some virtuoso guitar playing.
Gilles Peterson
Peterson is a DJ, radio broadcaster and the founder of the Acid Jazz label. The music he plays is may initially appear discordant, often obscure and performed by forgotten names, but it grooves and superbly curated.
Peterson’s three hour set included music with its roots of Africa, the bass culture of Jamaica, the urban soul of Detroit and a series reflecting the European new jazz generation.
Eliza
Eliza, once a more mainstream pop artist, is now a more mellow soul singer. Here set was smooth and enchanting, accompanied onstage by two joyful backing singers. This was a sultry vibe bathed in blue and purple lighting. Modern hippy-ish sounds for the urban generation.
Nils Frahm
Headliner Nils Frahm closed out the festival, bringing his unique blend of classical music and electronica, playing a variety of pieces using a vast range of different instruments and devices.
No concert performed by Frahm is the same. He takes his composition is and subjects these to improvisation, inspired by the space and the audience.
The overall experience was hypnotic – 90 minutes passed by rapidly in a sensuous delight, despite the occasional drop of rain. This was a superb way to end the festival.
The festival was chilled, relaxed with no sign of improper behaviour. Everyone was focused on the music and this is an event that should be repeated.
