Skip to main content
The Morning Star Shop
The sonic heaven of Dalston

Anthropology Band
Cafe Oto
★★★★
Paul G Smyth, John Edwards and Mark Sanders
Vortex
★★★★
   

DALSTON, east London, was the epicentre of free musical marvels last week.

At Cafe Oto the Anthropology Band showed how wondrously electric and acoustic sounds can gel so creatively and with such acerbic unity.

Martin Archer’s searing soprano and guttural tenor saxophone; Pat Thomas’s nonplussing keyboards;  the combined electric guitars  of Chris Sharkey and Anton Hunter; Dave Sturt’s pulsating bass guitar: Orphy Robinson’s pounding mallets: the cascades of Adam Farclough’s drums and the visceral, breathy vibrato of the trumpet and flugelhorn of Charlotte Keeffe. It was a timbral stew to be earnestly savoured.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
Similar stories
Arin Keshishi Quintet on stage / Pic: Artstage
Culture / 24 November 2025
24 November 2025

As part of the 2025 London Jazz Festival Rich Mix offered intriguing sessions titled 'Persian Jazz,' CHRIS SEARLE was there

oto
Jazz / 30 April 2025
30 April 2025

CHRIS SEARLE wallows in an evening of high class improvised jazz, and recommends upcoming highlights in May

Vortex Jazz Club, Dalston, London
Live Music Review / 12 February 2025
12 February 2025
CHRIS SEARLE samples the Kris Davis Trio at the Vortex and recommends highlights from the forthcoming programme
Roella Oloro, 2021
Interview / 22 January 2025
22 January 2025
CHRIS SEARLE speaks to British Nigerian/Jamaican pianist ROELLA OLORO