Live
Sunlightsquare: Jazz Cafe 27/02/09
This was the cherry on the cake for Claudio and the gang when they took to the the stage at the jazz cafe, en masse ready to do business and replicate the wondrously new album 'Urban,Latin,Soul.' The buzz was abundant, here was the defining moment to deliver the goods!
Sunlightsquare did not dissappoint, the rising stars filled the stage to the brim and their brightly tinged, vibed up funkiness ruled the evening. I'd only heard their reggaeton rendition of 'Past Time Paradise' so I was curious to say the least as to how the night would pan out.
It seemed the word was out and all the beautiful people were there packed to the rafters enjoying the superb sonic bliss wrapped with a gloriously expansive band on display. Passavanti, leading proceedings stage right was in his element, here was a living breathing exercise in how to run the show and play choice and juicy voicings on his rhodes piano that set up the backbone of the subtle arrangements, beautifully. If they play their cards right there's no reason why they can't emulate the success of and be bigger than say, incognito, they're that good! Sunlight Square intelligently demonstrated their diversity with such numbers as 'Faya' with it's horn led intro into a fine reggae offering, twin vocalists Hanna and Lei were the perfect vehicle for rarified and soulful vocals and showed not a hint a hint of showboating diva tricks that you can often find slipping out gratuitiously as with other singers.
Guest singer, Sharlene Hector, really set the stage alight with her effervescent, bubbly and characteristic playfulness, she rocked the house with 'Summer Night' four to the floor funkiness that had the crowd swaying like waves. An excelllent singer who really knows her craft, gifted with a distinctively gritty yet charming voice that can roam the heights of soulfulness with ease and expertise, I'm a new convert Sharlene! This was an impressive evening and the excitement kept coming! Special praise must also go to percussionist, Giovanni Imparato who oiled this well honed band with his exceptional rythymic skills on congas and timbales,this boy really cut the mustard and along with the stonking rythym section kept the party in full swing mode!
Other highlights included 'Amuyada' a fantastic afro brasilian chant, that fully rocked the room,with a horn section including Brandon "firebrand" Allen on tenor sax and the concise, stylish trumpet of Quentin Collins adding considerable weight to proceedings. However the absolute knockout for me was the fantastic Natalie Williams, another guest vocalist who, stole the show with the ballad 'Giving Me Love',an unmistakable talent who I'll be keeping an eye out for in the future.
Sunlightsquare acquitted themselves admirably, Claudio Passavanti has most certainly paid his dues and thoroughly deserves the success which is coming his way, here is a band that is totally on "it" not because they pander to whatever sound is currently fashionable but because they have a talent for performance and songwriting, that any fan of funked up cool dance, nu jazz (or what ever you want to call it!) shouldn't miss out on! Ciaou bello!
Words Emrys Baird
