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Pizza Express Jazz Club
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Dean Street, W1D 3RW
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Description: The F-IRE founders introduce a new project combining African hi-life bebop, world jazz and cutting-edge Buena Vista improv.
Phone: 0207734 3220
Website: www.pizzaexpresslive.co.uk
Trains: Tube: Tottenham Court Road 
Extra info: Food, Air Conditioning
Homage to Africa's gods
By Jack Massarik, Evening Standard 10.01.08
Big impression: Seb Rochford is part of this year's F-IRE Collective Week
Look here too
Let's all band together, and everyone will get a gig. Such is the raison d'être of the F-ire Collective, whose laboured acronym (Fellowship of Integrated Rhythmic Expression or somesuch) covers a multitude of sins.
Stars such as drummer Seb Rochford and guitarist Jonathan Bratoeff jostle among less talented players and last night, as F-ire Week gathered heat, it was the turn of founder-members Timeline, featuring pianist Nick Ramm, bass-guitarist Tom Mason, altoist Barak Schmool and drummer Leo Taylor, to take the stage.
Space was tight as singer-percussionist Maurizio Ravalico, conguero Armando Rincon and beevees Amy Lu and Ramona Santana joined them in search of Afro-Cuban trance-grooves.
Buoyed by their busy cross-rhythms and happy cries, Schmool wove Steve Coleman-like "outside" sax lines on top but Ramm's steady keyboard work kept everything real.
Referring to "Africa and other elements in our country who train to play this music", Schmool introduced a song-cycle of the Orishas, including Ogun, god of iron (a four-bar riff over three-on-four beats), love goddess Oya (more danzon, but with nu-soul chordwork) and Oshun (African handclaps and Cuban piano licks worthy of Chucho Valdez).
Some might regard this mix-and-match music as blatant cultural tourism but its honest enthusiasm and lack of inhibition was disarming.
At times, though, it was easy to imagine some authentic rascal at the back of the room suppressing a scornful chuckle.
• Series continues until Saturday (020 7734 3220).
Read the latest reviews from Jack Massarik in the Evening Standard
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
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