I have always been a huge fan of this genre, and have a particular affinity for musicians like Sarah Vaughan, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and of course Miles Davis. Modern day music from the late Amy Winehouse, afrobeat Jazz group (now disbanded) Sons of Kemet, and Ezra Collective truly bring this art form to life, breaking down any boundaries that 'music genres' impose.
Jazz Conversations by BOP (Body of People) Jazz Theatre Company brings a thrilling double bill, Footprints in Jazz and Touches of Miles. As much as I love jazz, I haven't been exposed to much dance in this genre, and so this will be quite an interesting evening. One hopes that it will live up to the great dance talent that is FKA Twigs (not strictly jazz but a stunning dance artist non the less).
Footprints in Jazz
This is a contemporary jazz theatre work, capturing the expression of BOP, individually and as a collective. This is considered a theatrical journey representing the richness and depth of Paul Jenkins original jazz compositions and Dollie Henry's choreography.
Touches of Miles
Touches of Miles pays homage to the life and music of jazz trumpeter & composer Miles Davis. The production brings to the stage a riveting live jazz ensemble who bring to life Miles’ classic compositions including, All Blues, Milestones and more.
If you like jazz theatre and dance, and appreciate the versatility that it brings, then I suggest you check it out, but get your tickets as soon as possible as this show will only be on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st September at The Place. An experience like this is sure to be unique and suitable for everyone. Follow us on socials to find out what we thought after tomorrow’s showing.
Review | Friday 20 September show
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
There's no doubt that this show exceeded my expectations. Music and performances blended so well together and demonstrated beautifully the diversity of the genre since its inception from African culture
The show started off with a curtain raiser performance from a company of young talented dancers. This was a pleasant surprise (and the youngest of them is a star in the making).
Footprints in Jazz is storytelling at its finest. The precision and power of the dance moves was finely balanced with softer, slower movements, taking us on a journey through Jazz evolution. Standout performances for me were from Nafisah Baba and Oraine Frater. Nafisah Baba exudes elegance and grace and truly captivates, expressing the stories through her whole body. Completing the first half was an interpretation and performance to ‘And Still I Rise’ voice over by Maya Angelou, which was incredibly powerful.
It is always a treat to see musicians play live, and the ensemble in Touches of Miles is incredible. I really enjoyed this second half of the show, which took us through Miles Davis's career and music. It captured the essence of Miles Davis and his natural innovative style perfectly. Among my favourite pieces was Flamenco Sketches, with performances by Baba and Frater. The Double Bass is one of my favourite instruments, and Jihad Darwish brought it to life!
Overall, it was a fantastic night with a lot of heart. I loved hearing the variety this genre brings, from traditional to Latin and Afro-Cuban jazz. A must see!
Venue:
The Place
17 Duke's Road
London
WC1H 9PY
Shows:
Friday 20 & Saturday 21 September 2024 at 7.30pm
90 minutes (including interval)
Price:
£20 (£16 concs.)
Tickets and more info:
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