Finally I get to sample a standing event at the amazing Howard Assembly Room by actually being on the floor rather than looking on enviously from the balcony. I must thank Opera North for making sure I was catered for in the seating arrangements following my various health issues over the past eighteen months or so, they have been very considerate, but I thought that it was time to fly the nest and join the revellers in possibly the most stylish mosh pit in the world.
I could not have picked a better gig at which to road test my knee as the music was so uplifting that it seemed to take the weight off of my joints and carry me through the evening. The demographic of my fellow terpsichoreans comprised all generations, from the cool young things to the even cooler old ones. There was a fair amount of dad dancing going on, with one or two exponents even keeping to the beat.
The musicians providing the soundtrack were Orchestra Baobab, who originate from Senegal, which is the westernmost country in Africa, but their style covers a multitude of genres. I couldn’t tell you the names of most of the numbers played as they didn’t all get an introduction and those which did were name checked in a broad Afro-French accent. It really didn’t matter what they were called, they were so diverse in tempo and construction that I just let the waves wash over me. Although this ensemble was new to me there was a large number of Orchestra Baobab aficionados in the audience who were shouting requests for the tunes to make up the encore.
My notes were confined to just three entries, mainly because it is not easy to write whilst throwing shapes, and not a great look either: the first was La Bamba, the second Calypso and the third Brimful of Asha, which I am sure will illustrate the diversity. The songs in question were not cover versions but, in my mind, were the nearest thing I could think of to give you a vague idea. That said, the overwhelming influence seemed to be Cuban. Clicking on the link below will obviously enlighten you far better than I can.
As you can deduce from the title page of the clip, the band has been celebrating 50 years of existence. They were actually established in 1970 but there was obviously a postponement of the golden anniversary tour due to the pandemic, still, as they say, better late than never.
For more information about Orchestra Baobab and to book tickets for the remainder of the European leg of their tour, please go to https://orchestrabaobab.com/ As you will see there are no more dates in the UK but should you be in the Netherlands or Germany in the next few weeks you can catch them there.
Once again, Howard Assembly Room has put on an evening to remember and broadened my musical horizon. To see what they have in the pipeline, please go to https://www.operanorth.co.uk/event-tag/har/
Feature image from Opera North, photographs by Stan Graham
Tyke It To The Limit 