Review ratings:
		Don’t Bother
		Not Bad
		Good
		Very Good
		Excellent

Before his record-breaking comedy gig at world-renowned O2 in Greenwich, south London, had happened, many thought the relatively unknown comedian from the Democratic Republic of Congo Eddie Kadi was kinda crazy - including the staff at the venue he asked to hold the event.

But like Martin Luther King, Eddie had a dream, and on 4th September, it came true.

Eddie had already held gigs at the smaller IndigoO2, Hammersmith Apollo and Hackney Empire to test his mettle, but the O2 was truly in a different league and the crowd who had turned up to support and giggle were waiting in anticipation.

And Eddie, the energetic and observant performer jokingly announced of the women in the audience: "If they came married, when I finish, they will leave separated!" - and didn't seem to leave the audience disappointed.

Eddie's set was a combination of bedroom and living room, which the bedspread covered in Chelsea football team spread. He made reference to maids he would have had in Congo, "send my houseboy!" and Congolese references were made the whole way through the night - and to his at-times African accent: "We have no subtitles in Oxygen."

Eddie's heritage has played a large part in his comedy routine. After moving to London at the age of eight, he grew up in Fulham and attended the Henry Compton secondary school, (the sprinter Linford Christie is also an alumnus). Eddie got involved in performing arts, taking part in school and church music groups.

While at university, Eddie hosted his first comedy show.

As Eddie moved around in his bedroom, he shouted, "Where's my Cocoa Butter? I'm not using palm oil today."

Eddie's jokes varied from Congo: "Think of a hot summer… in a volcano"; polygamy: "In life you must learnt to be generous", immigration officers: "After God is you [said immigration officer]", religion: "The only way you can't go to church is if you're dead", poverty in the UK: "Walk to Tesco for food with money happy and walk to the JobCentre, the walk to hell. The M&S bread says ‘don't touch me' and No Frills says ‘you know you want me'. Blue plastic bags, look depressed."

Eddie's night was a variety show of dancing: Peridot, Patcho Debenq and No Name Crew were international dancing groups who performed; from Music: Tinie Tempah: performing Pass Out, Diane Parish from Eastenders made an appearance to promote leukaemia charity ACLT, Yolanda Brown, saxophonist, N-Dubz. In the crowd were Chipmunk, Reg Yates and Kano.

He had a full band as he danced his way through his set.

Vocal slender from Welcome to Lagos also made an appearance - he had an interview.

So after holding the audience for over two hours, Eddie's proved dreams do come true.

By Ebun

© Catherine | www.13h37.com

When somebody loves what they do, it shows. In the dim red lighting of the Ronnie Scott's Jazz club's intimate u-shape set-up, wafting smells of fish cakes and white wine were fused with an air of anticipation as Manu Dibango took the stage, exuding a love for his craft from the first note.

Adept at vibraphone, saxophone and piano, the multi-instrumentalist has moulded a musical style fusing jazz, funk and traditional Cameroonian music.

Best known for his 1972 afrobeat single 'Soul Makossa', which is often considered the first disco record, Dibango brought a characteristic blend of sounds to this performance as he and his 7-piece band began with a Cameroonian-inspired intro, smoothly manoeuvring into a swing-beat jazz bridge then jumping back into African percussion.

With the venue's perfect acoustics on his side every step of the way, Manu and his fleet, including flute, bass, guitar, double drum kit and xylophone, not to mention a velvet-voiced backing vocalist with smooth moves besides, treated the audience to a night of great music.

Highlights included the Fela Kuti-esque album title track Lion of Africa, and a passionate rendition of Miriam Makeba's 'Malaika' performed by the backing vocalist with Manu on piano and reggae-style wah wah guitar accompaniment.

The impressive ease at which the band gelled and paired off for duets was a treat to witness. Some solid solo performances on sax, piano and bass show that the team is evenly yoked in skill; delightful flute with guitar and rolling drums created that happy High-life sound that brings cheer to any ear. Tireless percussion and organ theatrics through a digitised piano box made for some very melodic and playful improvised moments.

Closing out in unforgettable fashion, a big-beat showdown saw two drummers go head to head, one presenting a wild stick-spinning crescendo behind a drum-kit, the other with intricate drum-fingering and a cataclysmic cymbal bashing frenzy, all done by hand. As if that weren't enough, he finished off by balancing a bottle on his head while drumming, and even ducked down behind the bongos, letting his hands steal the show.

Manu Dibango is an intense and animated artist, whose happy easy melodies are memorable way past their encore. His laid-back and free persona is evident in his silky French intros to all songs; walking through the audience asking 'ca-va?' (How are you?), comfortable in his own skin this performer certainly is.

However, he did close the show with a very British See You Very Soon' We certainly hope so too.

by Lauren Ashi

She blew everyone away and was well worth waiting for. From the moment the gorgeous Ayanna came on stage, introduced her accompaniment and then launched into a selection of different songs, one about the birth of her nephew, I knew it would be a magical evening spent in this intimate, cool and atmospheric venue.

Her self-assured style, honey sweet, bluesy vocals, warm engaging personality and sense of humour, had the audience cheering, laughing and swaying to the sound. She spent a year in New York developing new work and has composed new material, she will go far, it was wonderful to see such young talent.

Unique and captivating, Ayanna Witter-Johnson is a composer, vocalist and cellist who has developed musically from a diverse background of mixed cultures. After extensive collaborations with Nitin Sawhney and Courtney Pine - and a year spent developing new work in New York, Ayanna has composed new material for her trio which comprises Fraser Fifield, the astonishing piper and low whistle player who is equally conversant on soprano saxophone and the inventive pianist Robert Mitchell. They did her proud.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=-hKf5ccd5Xw&feature=player_embedded

There's something about the jazz crowd, an effortlessly well turned-out, smiley bunch who know how to have a good time. The people at the Jazz Café to see Michael Olatuja perform on the launch of his debut album Speak were no exception, warmly welcoming the musician and his band to the stage and anticipating an energetic musical journey.

This journey started early for the talented bassist. At age 11, Olatuja picked up a bass guitar for the first time, and within five years, he was playing professionally, absorbing everything he heard along the way, including soul, jazz, R&B, gospel and more.

Influences such as guitarist George Benson and jazz bassists Richard Bona, who Olatuja calls his "teacher and mentor," helped shape his musical world and with additional schooling in both the U.K. and U.S. Olatuja's sharpened skills allowed him to mix it up with world-class artists who quickly came to appreciate his gifts.

One of those artists is rapper Ty, a guest performer with the band on the night, who got the crowd well prepared for the show (by actually asking us to perform warm up' stretches!) Olatuja then gave a soulful accapella intro, leading into the lively Ma Foya influenced by traditional African music, hallmarks of which he often incorporates into his compositions while working comfortably with musical vocabularies more familiar to Western ears: neo-soul balladry, hip-hop, modern jazz and deep groove. This particular track featured phrases from the Yoruba language ("Ma Foya" meaning "Don't fear"), and with positive lyrics and beautiful harmonies from the backing vocalists, the bar was set for an outstanding show. The microphone levels were a bit low, but this was rectified quickly (phew).

As any musician will know, there is no I' in team, and the accompaniment helped to make this show extra-special. The backing vocalists were on-point, with Michael dropping in a special recognition to a member of the group, his wife and queen' Alicia. The band fit together really well, with excellent drumming and piano solos throughout the night, and the guitarist enthralled the crowd with an exciting improvisation whilst controlling a complicated-looking foot-pedaled amp thingy. Who says men can't multi-task?

With synergy like this, the band, vocals, and that signature Michael Olatuja sound did not fall into place by chance. It was his 2004 move to New York that gave him the impetus he needed to put it all together. "As a writer, New York encouraged me to be original, because there are so many artists out there," he says. "Jazz encouraged the freedom to improvise, soul encouraged me to do it from the heart, R&B encouraged an undeniable deep groove and world music encouraged me not to forget my roots. Gospel gives it all a sense of purpose; it inspires and uplifts."

Inspirational songs performed from the new album included Little Sister, with UK soul-stress Terri Walker on lead vocals, finishing her appearance with a freestyle alongside the other vocalists and adding a surprise apt slice of Sister from The Color Purple, and Ty laying down some hot verses on the title track Speak. The stand-out moment was the band's performance of Walk With Me, also from the new album. Alicia's solo vocal rose steadily over shuffling drums, hauntingly soulful and tasty like a smooth mug of hot chocolate. Deliciously soothing, with Olatuja's bass solo almost lyrical in its expressiveness.

A jovial presence on stage, Olatuja's love for what he does is evident. His interaction with audience and band alike reveals his nature as an artist who enjoys sharing the spotlight. But don't just take my word for it; hear his music speak for itself. You can't help but listen.

The Album Speak is out now.

By Lauren Ashi