The bard rests on his laurels, and swipes left and right
The struggle made sonic
CHRIS SEARLE translates the fusion of four jazz maestros into a mental image of Hackney Carnival
Pat Thomas, Steve Noble and Seymour Wright play Cafe Ito
[Courtesy of Pete Woodman] 
MARIA DUARTE cherishes the flashes of absurd humour and theme of community healing in a documentary set in a Soviet-era Black Sea sanatorium
ANGUS REID and MARIA DUARTE review The Courageous, The Cut, Christy, and On Swift Horses
TOM STONE sings the praises of one of the oldest open-air festivals in Britain
Chris Searle speaks to accordionist KAREN STREET
MAYER WAKEFIELD speaks to Urielle Klein-Mekongo about activism, musical inspiration and the black British experience
Seymour Wright, Steve Noble, Pat Thomas and John Edwards
Cafe Oto, Hackney, London
JUST outside Cafe Oto, along Dalston Lane, is the huge and marvellous mural of a Hackney Carnival; all musicians soaring, all people dancing, all colours coalescing.
So I was hearing music in my head as I passed the momentous image, preparing me for the sounds I was to hear inside the Cafe Oto’s old industrial walls.
It was Derby alto saxophonist Seymour Wright, Hounslow-born bassist John Edwards and drummer and pianist from the Thames Valley, Steve Noble and Pat Thomas; all in powerful creative fettle.
More from this author
CHRIS SEARLE encourages you to go hear a landmark performance, and introduces some of the musicians
CHRIS SEARLE hears the ordeal of the Palestinian people in the improvised musicianship of a UK jazz trio
Reviews of the Neil Charles Quartet, the Freddie Hubbard Quintet, and the Olie Brice Quartet
CHRIS SEARLE speaks to Chris Laurence, bassist and bandmate of saxophonist TONY COE
