This
CD is an exhilarating fusion of Caribbean, Latin jazz and Eastern
European musical styles and rhythms. Festivo, formed
by Dominic Grant and Frank Biddulph reflects their musical background
and interests. Dominic, an outstanding guitarist and composer
of all the material on the album, is the son of West Indian
father ( Cy Grant ) and Czech mother, whilst Frank's exuberant
jazz violin style has strong Eastern European influences.
Add the huge talents of pannist Mark Cherrie, double bass player
Selwyn Charles and percussionist Tony Maronie and we get a complex
mix of melodic and rhythmic textures and adventurous flights
of the imagination. Perhaps this CD is about having fun
and a comment on the cosmopolitan nature of the contemporary
music scene.
Festivo
was awarded a grant by the National Lottery through the Arts
Council of England, enabling the group to run a series of
calypso jazz workshops in London schools, and record for 'Soundscapes',
an educational project commissioned by the National Centre
of Popular Music in Sheffield on the history of popular music.
Festivo
also performed last year at the Soho Jazz Festival and for
a range of events celebrating the 50 th Anniversary of the
Windrush. These concerts culminated in the release of
this exciting CD.
Festivo
are happy to perform in intimate surroundings entirely acoustically,
as they are to play on bigger stages with a PA system. |
