The Souljazz Orchestra and Ikebe Shakedown kicked brass at Babylon
(photo by Alexandre Mattar)
The Souljazz Orchestra and Ikebe Shakedown sold out Babylon Nightclub Thursday March 28.
One of Ottawa’s finest exports, Souljazz tore it up with their triple saxophone onslaught. Their latin-afro-funkadelic-soul stylings never disappoint. A stellar set from start to finish with great songs off their latest album Solidarity and some older tunes for the “old school Babylon” faithful. My night was complete when they dropped “Freedom no go die,” my favourite track. They even found time to have Gary “Slim” Moore, from New York, join them on stage Kingpin.
As always Pierre Chrétien, keys, and Philippe Lafrenière, drums, kept the band on track never missing a beat. Marielle Rivard treated the Francophones in the room signing a beautiful French number. All in all, you should never miss a Souljazz Orchestra show, and I am sure the sellout crowd would agree with me.
I wished for everyone to be early, not only so they could get in, but to check out Ikebe Shakedown. One of the most refreshing opening acts that I have seen in a long time. If you don’t want to dance to their funky trombone driven tunes, your are not alive. This seven piece from Brooklyn is so electric and contagious, with members from Lee Fields’ and Charles Bradley’s touring bands. Nadav Nirenberg laid down some mind blowing solos on the trombone. The band offers tons of unexpected beauty, like a flute solo on one track. And not to be outdone the bongos and sax unloaded on us to wrap up their set.