With the notable exception of my treasured Donny Hathaway and Dance Craze vinyl, which whilst researching this post I was overjoyed to see now has a DVD version (you NEED to see this trailer), I’ve never been a fan of live LPs. The recordings were often poor and the live magic - if there really was any, rarely transmits though the speakers and seems oddly lost washed down with a cup of tea whilst glued to the sofa. I mean at least jump on the running machine so you’ve got a sweat on and shotgun a can of strong lager before listening.
Funnily enough I also don’t think that this LP really captures the live experience that well. Either the crowd were a bit too sober or their sounds during the songs have been overly edited, but it is certainly well recorded so consider it an open to the public, one take studio album. More importantly it synergistically unites Waaju - newish kids on the London nu-jazz block with a couple of solid LPs to their name and Majid Bekkas, a Moroccan legend with plenty of jazz form, on vocals and various string instruments.
Bekkas is a keen collaborator and provides the real magic here, he also brings out the best in Waaju who are forced to leave their jazz continuum comfort zone, lay down some North African rhythms and look further south than Croydon for inspiration. They also do a great job of hosting their guest, wisely and selfless eschewing ego, content to help elevate the main man’s evocative North Africa got soul vocals with some great dubbed out, jazz laced atmospheric work & rhythmic propulsion.
Don’t get too hung up on the live tag, just come here for some serious north meets south fusion vibes.
You can also find them tucked away in the Slow World Playlist if you fancy some more far flung sounds.
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