229 THE VENUE London reviews by real event-goers
Reviews of 229 THE VENUE in London
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Showing the latest reviews from all events held at 229 THE VENUE.
Review of Light of the World
Fabulous Night.Wonderful Old Skool Chooooons
Great Musicians.D Train ‘s voice was outstanding.
Great atmosphere,Great crowd!!!!!!!
If it Moves.................Funk it!!!💃🏼💃🏼💃 🏼💃🏼💃🏼€ 131;🏼💃🏼
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Would you recommended: Yes |
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Review of Stanley Clarke
Having an opportunity to see the inimitable Stanley Clarke live in concert was most definitely a 'bucket list' moment and an opportunity which was simply too great to pass on. Having arrived in London an hour or so before the 8pm admission time in order to identify the discretely located 229 The Venue, which once inside was a very well appointed room and ideally equipped for a gig of any standing.
Stanley Clarke and the three young musicians who made up his backing band took to the stage around 8:45pm and for the first hour or so it was everything you'd expect from a Stanley Clarke performance. Alembic in hand he demonstrated all of the lightening fast finger-work he became so well known for 40+ years ago, proving that he's lost absolutely none of his amazing agility across the fretboard. Stanley Clarke was most definitely in the house! His young backing band were, quite clearly, outstanding world-class musicians, with the drummer worthy of particular note. In fact, if you traveled back in time to place a young Billy Cobham on the drums that's pretty much what this amazing young man brought to the proceedings. A very aggressive yet technically versatile player he really had it all and then some. It's just a pity, really, that the view to him was obscured by the second keyboard player who was positioned in front of him at the front of the stage. A little more thought into stage lay-out would really do this drummer justice.
The unfortunate thing about this gig was the fact that it was a performance of two halves. Not in the literal 'intermission' sense, but for the first half it was classic, even fantasy Stanley Clarke, however the second half was comprised of Clarke playing the upright bass for the remainder of the show and playing numbers which could only be described as incredibly self-indulgent jazz club 15 minute loosely arranged pieces. Overlong piano solos, overlong keyboard solos and, as good as he was, overlong drum solos as well. It all became incredibly tedious with some member of the audience (including myself) becoming less engaged with every further advancement into Jazzville. In fact, I even had time to pop to the conveniences, go to the bar and reclaim my position in the audience during one such overly-indulgent solo.
The show came to a, frankly, welcome close as it offered a respite from another tedious obscure journey into whichever world the four musicians onstage were inhabiting at the time. There was an encore, of sorts, where Clarke played his trusty four-string Alembic once more. Rejoice! Or not, as the case actually was, as the encore lasted all of what seemed like five minutes and came to an abrupt end, capping what was a slightly odd experience. An absolutely sublime first hour or so, followed by a ridiculous second hour or so.
I'd love to see Stanley Clarke again, as it really is a privilege to witness such talent, but I'd somehow what to check the format of the show beforehand so as not to subject myself to an hour of complete tedium for the remainder of the evening. Mind you, it does present an opportunity to get the early train back home again. Every cloud....
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Would you recommended: Yes |
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101-120
