Thursday 19 July 2012 at 21.15
Place Pierre Betz – Souillac
“The history of jazz is also the history of the Black American people and their protest movement” Sim Copans, 1975
Soweto Kinch, a British jazz saxophonist and hip hop singer, represents the new beat of 21st century Black Music. He was born in England to a Barbadian father and a British-Jamaican mother and his music talks of Birmingham, its vandalised and neglected suburbs, its hopes and its colourful Caribbean accents. His concert entitled “The New Emancipation” combines instrumental pieces with vocal sketches in a complex mix that is both powerful and convincing. Older work songs are the basis for the instrumental melodies which are highly be-bop. The clear, arresting sound of the saxophone introduces the narrative which is developed in the texts of the songs. Soweto Kinch slams, raps and criticises – sometimes in a frenzy of rage, sometimes with caustic humour – abuse in the world of finance, unbridled liberalism and a compartmentalised music industry trying to lay claim to protest music. Above all, he takes up the torch of the Black Music revolt against the condition of black people, against injustices that are the legacy of slavery – a wound that has still not healed. With its rap rhythm and deliberately rough style, Soweto Kinch’s music captivates and convinces. The tonic, joyous and swinging notes he produces on his saxophone are reminiscent of Wayne Shorter and John Coltrane and his music is a throwback to Jimi Hendrix and Max Roach. The inspiration and mastery of this young artist shine through a range of styles from bop to jazz fusion, guided by his intentions and energetic flair. The combination of jazz and rap traps the force that powers the fight for emancipation, channelling it into a culture that is resolutely forward-looking: “I do not talk about race but about culture. A culture that is constantly changing and which bears the weight of history. Believe me, this tradition is still alive and I am its child.”
