Review of Ska Cubano live at the Zodiac, Oxford, on 24th November
This is going to be a hard review to write, as I can barely sit still after so much dancing last night! Ska Cubano is the brain child of Top Cats front man Natty Bo, London’s Ska supremo. He has assembled a ska/Cuban dream team featuring vocalist Beny Billy recruited busking in the streets of Santiago, Natty and his sax-playing ex-wife Megumi Mesaku, surrounded by top international musicians. The band are not in the first flush of youth, but don’t let their aged exteriors fool you – experience counts for a lot in music! These cats have lived it, done it, and now they’re playing it for you…with an energy and excitement that has to be seen to be believed!
Ska Cubano played the venue a few months previously and clearly made an impression, as it was a sell-out with very little advertising. These were dance-hungry pilgrims awaiting benediction, and they weren’t to be disappointed! The drums and percussion began, establishing a mambo rhythm that had hips swaying and feet moving. Then, the guitar took up the ska off-beat with the horns backing him up and the room was alight. People were jumping, heads were almost nodding off their shoulders and Natty Bo welcomed us to the gig. Song after song of irresistible musical madness followed, with Natty and Beny swapping vocal duties throughout. Benny brought a more melodious, lyrical tone to the table whereas Natty is pure ska showman, building the crowd up and up with his call-and-response chants and finishing us off with his perfectly delivered choruses! We bowed to their greatness and showed our appreciation with our feet – I’d be surprised if anyone who was there will ever get that bounce out of their step.
They went off after about 50 minutes, but we weren’t going to let them rest. The call for more was deafening; feet were stamped until the floor shook, hands clapped as if lives depended on it and voices were raised to the benevolent gods of good times! And benevolent the gods were, because the band re-emerged for an extended 40 minute encore including Revolutionary Ska, their stand-out track.
As well as being purveyors of party beats, Ska Cubano are also, to a (wo)man, exceptional musicians. Megumi learnt her instrument with the jazz great Big Jay McNeely, the rest were schooled, variously, in the musical hot-houses of Cuba, London and Jamaica. They all had a turn to shine, exhibiting some breath-taking virtuosity but keeping it nicely limited. There were no excessive solos; each player had their turn, blew our minds and stepped back into the groove. This was an exemplary use of great individuals, the whole becoming, unbelievably, better than the sum of its parts. I will be going to see them again, anywhere I can, and there can be no better recommendation. Also, just to let you know, I had a call from the Zodiac this morning saying my arse had been handed in – apparently I danced it off!
This is going to be a hard review to write, as I can barely sit still after so much dancing last night! Ska Cubano is the brain child of Top Cats front man Natty Bo, London’s Ska supremo. He has assembled a ska/Cuban dream team featuring vocalist Beny Billy recruited busking in the streets of Santiago, Natty and his sax-playing ex-wife Megumi Mesaku, surrounded by top international musicians. The band are not in the first flush of youth, but don’t let their aged exteriors fool you – experience counts for a lot in music! These cats have lived it, done it, and now they’re playing it for you…with an energy and excitement that has to be seen to be believed!
Ska Cubano played the venue a few months previously and clearly made an impression, as it was a sell-out with very little advertising. These were dance-hungry pilgrims awaiting benediction, and they weren’t to be disappointed! The drums and percussion began, establishing a mambo rhythm that had hips swaying and feet moving. Then, the guitar took up the ska off-beat with the horns backing him up and the room was alight. People were jumping, heads were almost nodding off their shoulders and Natty Bo welcomed us to the gig. Song after song of irresistible musical madness followed, with Natty and Beny swapping vocal duties throughout. Benny brought a more melodious, lyrical tone to the table whereas Natty is pure ska showman, building the crowd up and up with his call-and-response chants and finishing us off with his perfectly delivered choruses! We bowed to their greatness and showed our appreciation with our feet – I’d be surprised if anyone who was there will ever get that bounce out of their step.
They went off after about 50 minutes, but we weren’t going to let them rest. The call for more was deafening; feet were stamped until the floor shook, hands clapped as if lives depended on it and voices were raised to the benevolent gods of good times! And benevolent the gods were, because the band re-emerged for an extended 40 minute encore including Revolutionary Ska, their stand-out track.
As well as being purveyors of party beats, Ska Cubano are also, to a (wo)man, exceptional musicians. Megumi learnt her instrument with the jazz great Big Jay McNeely, the rest were schooled, variously, in the musical hot-houses of Cuba, London and Jamaica. They all had a turn to shine, exhibiting some breath-taking virtuosity but keeping it nicely limited. There were no excessive solos; each player had their turn, blew our minds and stepped back into the groove. This was an exemplary use of great individuals, the whole becoming, unbelievably, better than the sum of its parts. I will be going to see them again, anywhere I can, and there can be no better recommendation. Also, just to let you know, I had a call from the Zodiac this morning saying my arse had been handed in – apparently I danced it off!