Zany is an adjective that seems to have fallen into disuse, but is also the best word to describe the band we went to see today. Bandakadabra are an eight piece outfit from Turin playing swing type jazz. Trumpet, alto sax, trombone, tuba and two tenor sax, plus a couple of percussionists with snare and bass drums, and cymbals.
Unusually, they line up the drummers up centre front and the others in a semi circle behind them. Perhaps because they are both highly entertaining to watch, and that the wee man with the big drum does most of the talking.
Entertaining is the key here, and these guys are as much showmen and comedians as they are musicians. From the first moments they build up a strong rapport with the crowd had a packed Spiegeltent with them throughout. Facial expressions, body language, mime, play acting, a broad range of physical comedy techniques are deployed both between and during numbers. And their posing for photographs routine, which drags in audience members, is hilarious. Towards the end they have us singing, and up on our feet dancing (even me....). Fun is the key to a Bandakadabra gig.
Whilst the musicianship is of a very good standard, the mix of material majors on the upbeat, and there were some excellent solos, I left without buying the proffered CD. For all that the playing is tight and the interplay effective, the arrangements aren't sufficiently memorable or musically imaginative to make me feel that this was something I'd want to play again and again.
But as a live act? Unmissable.
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