A pioneering dubstep producer being featured as part of the London Jazz Festival might seem strange from the outside. However, Mala has a habit of breaking moulds.
The London Jazz Festival is known for bringing together the best in new talent and legends of the genre to perform in various venues across the capital over a packed nine-day period. This year was no exception, with the likes of Sonny Rollins and Herbie Hancock joined by one of Jazz’s newest and brightest star’s - Esperanza Spalding. The impressive, grandiose yet intimate setting of the Royal Festival Hall played host to her immense talents as she returned to London for another stop on her Radio Music Society tour on November 15th.
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Last Tuesday night saw the premiere performance by the ‘Rebirth of The Cool’ project at the Blackheath Concert Halls, South-East London, as part of the London Jazz Festival 2009 (in association with Trinity College of Music’s regular ‘Beats In The Bar’ showcase night). ‘Rebirth...’ combines the forces of some of the UK’s brightest young talents for further sonic exploration of the auspicious union between Hip-Hop and Jazz. The project is organised by Rolling Sound, a media training provider for the young. At the helm of ‘Rebirth...’ is respected urban maestro and DJ, Eric Lau. Other illustrious names to have contributed to the Project include rapper TY and the award-winning jazz musician Finn Peters. During intense rehearsals spread over the course of nine weeks, ‘Rebirth...’ participants composed six original tracks to be performed for the first time at Tuesday’s gig.