Tonight’s show is part of their UK tour schedule as Robert Mitchell’s Panacea’s first album on the Edition label is released this week. Pianist and composer Mitchell is very individual in terms of his jazz style and as he and the band members have played with a vast array of jazz and non-jazz notables such as Steve Coleman, Norma Winstone, Courtney Pine, Jhelisa Anderson, Eric Lau, 4hero, Julia Biel amongst many others (some of whom we’ll mention soon), the The Cusp is a stand out masterpiece.

But before that, the Forge in Camden Town: where the Patrick is that I ask? I thought I knew what was happening in Camden Town on the jazz front but here’s a bit of competition for the Jazz Café (celebrating its 20th year in 2010!) just down the road in Delancey Street (opposite the Snooker Hall) with the entrance on the side (like a proper jazz club).

And very nice it is too with the gig held in a separate studio away from the distractions of the bar and the restaurant area (check out the links below as there’s some more of our favourites coming up including Randolph Matthews next Thursday and Heidi Vogel the day after). The walls are wood panelled room with block flooring with an ‘overflow’ balcony area all a bit reminiscent of something Scandinavian but more importantly, it’s a strong clean sound.

Tonight’s gig is the quartet version of Robert Mitchell’s Panacea with Robert (piano/keyboards), Tom Mason (Electric Bass), Shaney Forbes (drums) and the fabulous vocals of Ms. Deborah ‘The Light’ Jordan.

Tom also featured on Robert’s 3iO album, The Greater Good and Shaney recently featured on FLY as part of Empirical with their album Out ‘N’ In (and like Panacea, they have their own London Jazz Festival gig coming up, see links below) whilst Deborah’s blend of jazz and soul is increasingly reminiscent of a combination of Norma Winstone and Patrice Rushen.

Robert is as brilliant as ever and although there was no live version of the title track (it’s a monster and full album review HERE), the stripped down version of the band gave us a different insight into most of the rest of the album, ‘Fortunately So’ and ‘Flawless’ being particularly strong which puts me in a quandary as I previously thought ‘Essence’ and ‘Aura’ are my favourites on the album.

Definitely a band to see again and whilst it’s been a bit of wait since Trust, the new album is more in their own sound now as they are on the cusp of something very special - ‘The Cusp’ is one of the tracks of the year (today’s Dingwalls) and one of the albums of the year.

P.S. in addition to the CD, there’s a limited vinyl release which is even better so act quick.

Tour dates: ROBERT MITCHELL’S PANACEA
13th Sept - Pizza Express, London ALBUM LAUNCH
23rd Sept - Forge Arts Centre (Quartet Only)
8th Oct - Platform One, Newport, Isle of Wight - Workshop (Quartet Only)
9th Oct - Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford on Avon,
10th Oct - Jazz @ Future Inn, Bristol
12th Oct - RWCMD, Cardiff (Workshop Only)
12th Oct - Dempseys, Cardiff
7th Nov - Hare and Hounds, Birmingham
11th Nov - Guitar X - Workshop, London
12th Nov - The Vortex (LONDON JAZZ FESTIVAL)
3rd Dec - Fleece Jazz, Colchester
2011
21st Jan - Liverpool Phil, Rodewald Suite
27th Jan - The Spin Jazz Club, Oxford
12th Feb - Kings Place, York Way London

Reviewed: Robert Mitchell’s Panacea - The Cusp (Edition) Cat. No. EDN1023CD/V Release date: 13th September 2010 [digital] 20th September 2010 [CD/Limited Vinyl] Notes: This recording is dedicated to Norman Mitchell (1930-2009)
Tracklisting;
1. Essence (5:36)
2. Aura (5:15)
3. Fortunately So (7:00)
4. The Blessing (7:11)
5. The Cusp Voice feat. HKB Finn (Spoken Word) from the poem ‘On The Cusp’ written by HKB Finn] (4:57)
6. Lucid Dreamt (7:06)
7. A Map Of the Sky (8:36)
8. Quantum (6:50)
9. Flawless (5:54)

Links:
www.robertmitchellmusic.com
‘Mitchell is a lyricist and a thinker, and British jazz is far richer for his presence.’ - Mike Butler, Metro
www.londonjazzfestival.org.uk
London Jazz Festival 12th November - The Vortex 8.30pm
www.editonrecords.com
www.forgevenue.org/whats-on
Robert Mitchell’s Panacea - Thursday 23 September 2010 This performance is an hour with no interval and ticket holders for this event are entitled to 15% off food on the a la carte menu (not set menu) at Caponata Restaurant on the day of the concert. Allow at least an hour and a quarter if dining before the performance. Book a table in the restaurant on 0207 387 5959 or click here. Tickets £8/6 online, £10/8 on the door.
Empiricalmusic.com
London Jazz Festival 16th November - Empirical - Out ‘N’ In 8.30 Peter Parker’s Club, Covent Garden
www.normawinstone.com