Live
Snowboy and the Latin Section: STAND! Fairfield Halls, Croydon 19/05/11
Now here's a funny thing… I was recently lucky enough to be invited to watch the talent that is Snowboy and the Latin Section, lovely! Ahhh, but it gets better… Not only was I to witness the "foremost Conga player in the world" in action with his duck tight Latin Section, BUT, it was also set to be the opening night for one of the best kept secrets in the South East…
A monthly called STAND! was set to take place in sunny Croydon, yes I said Croydon. At the Fairfield Halls, YES, I said Fairfield Halls!! Sorry, shall I speak up??? lol. And with an array of talent booked for subsequent month's including David McAlmont, Skatroniks and Grammy nominee James Hunter, this could be a marriage made in heaven (or at least Croydon registry office!?)
So before I enter into the action ON stage I would just quickly like to set the scene OFF stage… After parking in the Fairfield car park (underneath), it was a short walk to the front doors/lobby of the Halls. It was there I was greeted by the ever friendly Laura Roberts on behalf of the Fairfield Halls, as were all those who attended this event, such was the importance of this evening to this majestic building.
Once in, it's straight to the bar, obviously!? Which was of ample size and well staffed - so the evening shouldn't end up too dry, whatever your drinking persuasion… It was at this point I turned to take in the event space itself, and I have to say, I was delightfully surprised by this decent performance expanse. Is was also at this point the mighty Snowboy + band entered into the equation…
Arranging his hands over his congo's like a pair of wound Asp's waiting to strike, the Latin American legend stood in deep concentration as the nights proceedings got underway. And without boring our reader's too much with my glaring words of glowing admiration as this perfect performance happened, these masters of Latin groove were nothing short of superb - in fact, superbly superb even!
As I turned to my left, I could see the The Salsa dancers were starting to hot-up as their bodies moved in sync with the hypnotic beats of this ensemble. From the introduction of "Snowboy's Special" the tune written especially for the maestro from the King of Latin Jazz, Mr Eddie Palmieri… To the mambo influenced tracks which wove genitally around the Latin grooves… To the very last sumptuous drop of the last tune of the night, the theme from the T.V. show "The New Avengers". The prowess of this group was never in doubt and Snowboy's command on the proceedings was 'King' - a word, funnily enough, which would aptly fit this right royal delight!
The event, the venue, the staff and of course the act deserve 10 out of 10, and I for one, cannot wait until next month's instalment at the STAND!
STAND! Takes place monthly at the Fairfield Hall's in Croydon. With ex-Croydon boy David McAlmont returning on June 23rd, to his place of birth (no not the Fairfield Halls!) - this event will surely be a special one!
Ticket price £17.50 NO BOOKING FEE -  Doors 7pm
Words LEE TYLER
