Bob Hill Illicit Grooves
These tracks were great first time around and now these live versions really show off the excellent musicality and musicianship of the band members. Great stuff
Following their acclaimed ‘Grown’ album, London jazz ensemble Waaju share two electric live takes on fan favourites “Listening Glasses” and “Moleman”, capturing highlights from a sold-out show at Camden’s legendary Jazz Cafe.
Second album ‘Grown’ was hailed as “a majestic spiritual jazz masterpiece” by Songlines Magazine. Within its walls, Waaju fused dexterous hand-percussion, hypnotic guitar riffs and soaring melodies, connecting a wide range of traditional musical forms percolating at different corners of the global soundscape, yet with a distinctly of-the-moment and British jazz flavour.
Here Waaju share a very open, pretty special, live rendition of their popular “Listening Glasses” song, featuring an extended intro and solo from guitarist Tal Janes. Whilst on this live take of “Moleman” we can hear the audience’s energy reflected back in the exuberant playing of the band.
Led by drummer and percussionist Ben Brown, and comprising members across the UK’s extensive music scene, including percussionist Ernesto Marichales, guitarist Tal Janes, saxophonist Sam Rapley, and bassist Joe Downard, Waaju’s unique and divergent sound connects the dots between the likes of Beth Carvalho, Oscar D’Leon, Alain Peters and Los Muñequitos de Matanzas. Between them, have performed across the globe with the likes of Mulatu Astatke, Jordan Rakei, Nubiyan Twist, Ashley Henry, Alfa Mist, Maria Chiara Argiro, China Moses, Judi Jackson, Jason Rebello, and Dizraeli.
credits
released December 3, 2021
Ben Brown - drums, percussion
Sam Rapley - saxophone, shaker (track 4)
Tal Janes - guitar
Ernesto Marichales - congas, percussion
Joe Downard - bass
Recorded at The Jazz Cafe, London
Mixed and mastered by Alex Killpartrick
Cover photo by Katarzyna Borek
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