photography: Jan T. Sott
Kaidi Tatham, Jazz Cafe, August 28th 2009
Kaidi Tatham’s dynamic and energetic live performances are already the stuff of legend. His performances, for instance at the Mau Mar bar in Ladbroke Grove as part of the Jazz Re:freshed nights, are firmly etched in the memory, and in his first headline performance at the Jazz Cafe he did not disappoint. His show touched on the mesmeric, the fast and furious and (despite the best intentions of the audience chatting loudly at the bar area) the gentle and melancholic.
Bouncing on to the stage, Kaidi looked positively animated, dressed in smart black trousers and a crisp white shirt. Sitting behind an imposing Steinway piano he led us gently through a fluttering piano intro and then into ‘In Search of Sound’ (the title track from his criminally over-looked current album).
The much lauded flautist Finn Peters was part of a very competent band which also included Tello on percussion and Akwasi Mensah on bass. He gave a wonderful solo on the second number – a Brazilian-influenced track which coupled well with Kaidi’s wonderful piano work. This set the scene for the rest of the evening, with many previously unheard new tracks mixed in with radically re-worked album tracks, including the magical street soul of ‘Do Watcha Gotta Do’.
A hazy ‘neon’ vibe was present on the brilliant funk-jazz intoned ‘These Things Will Past’, with Kaidi’s hands touching fire as they sculpted the keys at furious speeds. The track cleverly carried a rendition of the Headhunter’s ‘Vein Melter’.
Utilising a full band and the full length of the stage, Kaidi’s playing was more relfective in parts than during previous shows (which included some beautiful serenades on piano). And if there was ever any doubt regarding Kaidi’s piano prowess any cynics would have been won over by his competent playing. It is a shame, and it is the perennial complaint of the Jazz Cafe on the weekend, that the noise levels were such that they drowned out many of the quieter numbers. However, throughout the show, which included a birthday serenade from the crowd, Kaidi was relaxed and often joked with the audience.
All in all, this was a brilliant performance to an appreciative crowd and from a new band who showed hints of potential greatness. Kaidi as ever was the master.
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One Comment »
Quite a stiff review lol! The gig was way more fun than this write up might suggest in my opinion. No audience noise over on the right side of the room, just some serious getting down. Suppose there’ll always be chatting near the bar. Can happen anywhere not just Jazz Cafe, I remember N’Dambi at Mau Mau’s was like that if you were more than 5 metres from the front, at the end of the day can’t begrudge people wanting to have a good time
Anyway agreed kaidi’s playing was effortless as always, loved the way he was vibing with the percussionist as mentioned above and the track with Kaidi and Finn Peters both on flute was dope. Also sounded much better when Akwasi turned the bass UP. Great to hear Face and Vanessa Freeman on vocals – Hands and Feed the Cat sounding BAD!
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