High energy jazz, Cuban roots music, virtuoso musicianship and a lot of sonic experimentation when the pianist and composer Roberto Fonseca bough his band to play as part of Lichfield Festival’s music season.
With Fonseca on piano, keyboards and vocals, the rest of the band consisted of Joel Hierrezuelo on Cuban percussion, Jorge Chicoy on Electric Guitar and Tiple, drummer Ramses Rodriguez, bassist Yandy Martinez and the kora player Sekuo Kouyate.
A busy Garrick audience was treated to a series of long form compositions that ranged in mood and genre, and highlighted both tight ensemble playing, and strong individual contributions from all of the players.
The music came from the band’s latest release Yo with the opening title track being a showcase for modern keyboard sounds, and a catchy piano refrain and strong support from the high energy rhythm section. El Mayor was a sonic soundscape for Piano, and radio white noise, as well as clattering percussion and bass.
Bibisa was a gospel piece, full of driving piano, soulful singing from Roberto Fonseca and Joel Hierrezuelo, and fleet, harmony and unison parts for Piano and Kora, with a Kora solo that made good use of the instruments range and timbre, and a wah-wah pedal.
Mi Negra Ave Maria had a rhapsodic gospel piano introduction, before a polite gospel groove was reached. The playing was perhaps a bit too restrained to achieve full take off, but the joy of the music, and the musicians as infectious, and meant that this was a memorable concert.
