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Once in, DJ Nuts played for about an hour and a bit with his usual top, top quality selection of bossa, funk, soul — including an instrumental version of ‘Theme from Shaft’, Paul McCartney’s ‘Check my Machine’ and a great Tim Maia track that I forgot the name of but is on “Racional Vol.2”. Technically and with his selections Nuts is such a strong DJ, really in control, hopefully he will be back in Europe asap.

Mark dCL got things started announcing the Freesoul rules, welcoming people to come up & jam but “know when to stop and know how to Kill it!!”

The Freesoul crew took the stage, without usual big names of Kaidi Thatham (Bugz), Richard Spaven or Bembe Segue, but with plenty of hot musical talent. Marcina Arnold (vocals), Joni Love (flute), Yoann Julliard (drums), Tello (percussion), joined by Eddie Neumann and Ben Hadwen (saxes), D. Fenda and Paul Aaron (guitars) and Sharlene Hector and Vula (vocals).

Mark dCL got things started announcing the Freesoul rules, welcoming people to come up and jam but “know when to stop and know how to Kill it!!” He then pumped his fingers on his Akai MPC 3000 and a sick beat emerged. Mark killed it through the whole session, body bopping, with hands and fingers flying about on the MPC, Synth and Fendor Rhodes, plus making use of the Grand Piano that was there also (presumable leftover from Omar’s gig).

Joni Love from New Jersey played some delicious flute, adding in light skits over the chunky rhythms. The levels weren’t always spot on, but with the Jazz Cafe people not giving MdCL time to sound check other than over the DJ set, it must have been awkward to fix up. Ben Hadwen (a key player with Max Cole & Planet Rescue) blew a bit on his baritone saxophone and sported his intricate curly-whirly sideburns, a strong look! Sturdy ‘West London-style’ basslines fired out of MdCL’s synth for most of the session, and his work on the grand piano, Rhodes or MPC was top quality. I really dig the ebb & flow of the interchanging Freesoul stage, though I felt some of the band could have done more, perhaps less ‘free’ stuff and more looping of riffs/melodies, then adding subtle changes. Maybe they did but I couldn’t hear, back to the issue with the levels and the Jazz Cafe’s system. The last jam was a really strong finish with Nuts adding some sweet scratching over the top, then managing to sneak in a couple of records after the Freesoul crew finished at 2am, pleasing the crowd but not a moody bouncer.

Overall it was a wicked night, as every Freesoul Sessions I have attended has been. I love the Freesoul ethos of live, heavy, improvised music. Next one up Friday September 22nd, it deserves to be rammed as there is not much comparable to it and it is a great night to dance to and discover fresh sounds.

Links:
http://www.markdeclivelowe.net
http://blog.myspace.com/markdeclivelowe (MdCL’s blog, including words on the previous Freesoul Session)
http://www.myspace.com/freesoulsessions
http://www.antipodeanrecords.net/ANT1203.html (Freesoul EP available)
http://www.myspace.com/djnuts

Photos by Liam Dystant & Mark de Clive Lowe