Fusing east with west, jazz rhythms with Eastern chants, Nitin Sahwney - guitar, keyboards, samples and vocals, put on a spectacular show for the five hundred or so audience. Nitin's rhythm section comprised Euston Libur - drums, Eric Appapoulay - bass and vocals and Aref Durvesh - tabla and vocals. Main vocals were supplied by Jayanta Bose, Jhalisa Anderson, Tina Grace and JC001 (rap and mc). In charge of visuals were Nick Hillel and Marc Silver of Yeast Films.
Most numbers tonight were taken from the last two albums, 'Beyond Skin' and 'Prophesy' and dispelled the belief that modern musicians rely too heavily on samples and studio mixes and can not replicate their studio work live.
Nitin, seated on stool behind his keyboard, monitors and other gadgets, swapped from keys to guitar - from jazz to Flamenco - from east to west - effortlessly and perfectly. This man doesn't need the assistance of a studio production team to perform his often complex musical fusions. He is a modern musical genius. His music is the most diverse mixture of styles, rhythms and complex vocal acrobatics that I have ever had the pleasure to experience live.
No time was lost during numbers; as one finished Nitin introduced the title of the next number, introduced the main vocalist and then got on with it. Vocals styles ranged from Eastern chants (Jayanta), to powerful jazz and soul (Jhalisa and Tina), to rap (JC001), to complete, mind blowing, tongue twisting battles of scat, perfectly mirroring the tricky keyboard and guitar patterns.
Throughout, the band played against a backdrop of visual images (stills and film footage) from around the world. From President to pauper - from mud hut to skyscraper and from child to centurion. Added to this there was overlaid, live video of the artists as they played.
Coming so soon after the 11th September atrocities in USA, Tina Grace sported what looked like a self-captioned white top with the poignant words "An Eye For An Eye Leaves The World Blind" - Hmmm OK!!
The evening finished with a couple of new numbers with Nitin seated, with guitar, stage front. Just an ordinary guy who was then to be found outside the arena, on the merchandise stand, signing CD's and posters and generally talking with those that had come to see and hear him. Top Guy!!
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