Out to Lunch

Gilles Peterson, Ben Westbeech and Koop

Last weeks have been pretty intense. Lots of concerts and clubdates but the sky is brightening up now. There aren’t that many interesting gigs in the pipeline so I can spend some time to keep you all informed about what’s been.
I’m planning to post a best of for Mouse on Mars. It was an interesting combination: first a cheerful Barbara Morgenstern, next some advanced beats and noise from Mouse on Mars and to finish things off, a theatrical aftershow with Planningtorock. I was keen to see her videoperformance and right so. It was also a pleasant reunion with the orangerie at Le Botanique. It’s a small concert hall but definitely on of the best in terms of sound. But more to come on that one.

There was also Gilles Peterson at the Depot. He came to DJ but he brought some presets with him for starters. Things got pretty hot and humid with a new UK Soul act called Ben Westbeech. He’s signed to Gilles Peterson’s new label Brownswood. I thought I’d never heard him before but as it turned out, I had already heard him on the radio and some compilation albums as a guest singer. His style of singing and music is pretty similar to that of Jamiroquia. Some people hate it but I like it. Let’s see how he evolves and what comes next.

Later that evening the Scandinavian band Koop did their workout. They just released a second album with an update of Big Band Swing and Jumpstyle Jazz from the 30’s and 40’s. I liked the first album but never bought it. It was a little bit to slick and mellow just as the Gotan Project. But the new stuff is pretty swell. Really top. They brought a small combo with them of really fine ace musicians and a female vocalist. She sang much in the same way as Billie Holliday. They’re booked for the Blue Note Festival later on this year. If I can, I will go back to catch them a second time.

The evening ended with a DJ set of Gilles Peterson. I’ve seen him spin several times. He’s a pro. Can’t miss. His little bit of smalltalk at the start of the show is always kind of funny. He looked like he just flew in and missed everything that’s been on before and asked what we’ve been up to – ‘O, you’ve been listening to Ben then and what else… Koop’ ‘Great, let’s see what we can do next for ya’.

80 Get Silly – Ben Westbeech
81 I See a Different You – Koop