Support came from Sidiki Jobarteh, a hugely talented Gambian balafon player (a gourd based xylophone), with a percussionist and guitarist to provide the backing. Jbarteh is also an impressive vocalist, and the others provided backing vocals too.
He is very much rooted in the Gambian folk tradition, with a mix of old and new, including several self penned, and composition by his mother (Sona is a renowned kora virtuoso). He has a sympathetic feel for the music, and the old rhythms that underly the melodies. It's impossible to sit still when listening, this is music to move too. The beat almost jazz like, Jobarteh's hands a literal blur at times, and the crowd were borought into play singing along to the final number. This lad has a big future, and this was a great way to open the night.
The Kinnaris Quintet have now become, with the departure of Laura Wilkie, a quartet called Kinnaris Q. But nothing else has changed. Still the same high standard of musicality, still the origninality and variation in theoir m usic, and still having enormous fun with each other. Aileen Gobbi remains as bubbly and hilarious as ever in her introductions, the music as complex as ever. It was a shame that the sound balance sounded a bit off at times, but even that couldn't hide the quality of the music, or the way it engages their audience.
A wonderful gig.
