An eclectic mix of people packed into
Montage Music Hall to see Ibrahim Electric’s second show. The Danish
trio started off with a vibrant swing sound that quickly evolved into
something more. There were elements of soul, jazz, and even a healthy
amount of rock in each tune. Some songs were strung together with
interludes, reminiscent of the kind of rock-centric acts that often
take the stage at Montage.
The members of Ibrahim Electric were
dressed casually and played with a fervor I haven’t yet seen at the
festival. Each musician was very physical in his playing — almost
frantic. The songs themselves were expertly composed. Every piece had
a definite but never predictable direction. Overall, the performance
was probably the most dynamic I’ve seen this week.
Although Montage is clearly the perfect
venue for the act, it seemed like some of the audience felt out of
place. With such energetic performers on stage, I was surprised to
see people motionless in the crowd. A patchwork seating area had been
set up where folks would normally be standing, but I wondered if we’d
have been better off without the tables and chairs.
Stiff audience members aside, Ibrahim
Electric’s performance was definitely a highlight of the festival for
me. Tomorrow, I’ll close out my Jazz Fest experience with two female
vocalists whose styles are worlds apart: Norma Winstone and Ester
Rada.
This article appears in Jun 25 – Jul 1, 2014.
