At Sunday Easy, in the famous Trades Club in Hebden Bridge – Alan Dearling
One senses that a veritable ‘Tribe’ of imaginative, creative jazz musicians have been unleashed from the Leeds Conservatoire. Mangorata are the latest to musically light up Trades Club stage. They offered an explosive set of World Jazz fusion.
It was hi-energy, infectious music, and it delighted the many youngish fans and the seasoned jazzers in the crammed-full crowd. They relished the myriad varied rhythms and styles that form the component parts of what has become known as Nu-Jazz. And on this showing, this six piece collective of musicians are forging still new furrows – mixing Latin, Brazilian, African Hi-Life and even classical keys in a rich melange. They offered a striking combination of original tunes, many still being ‘created’, coupled with plenty of improvisation and individual solos.
They say that that they have been inspired by the likes of Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Wayne Shorter, Nubiyan Twist and many more. Mangorata employ the use of syncopation, and a driving percussion and drums section under the direction of drummer, band-leader Miles Pillinger’s eagle eye. They performed many of the tracks from ‘Afrodesia’ which was their first EP. Tracks like ‘Cinco’ and ‘Chaos in Chadwell’. It is very much a combustible, Afro-Cuban style of music. And Miles explained that they are currently working on the recordings for their first full album. The usual line-up of Mangorata features Miles Pillinger, who oozes charisma, together with rising stars, Olivia Cuttill on trumpet, James Absalom – tenor sax, Jj Petrie – percussion, Liam Mason on keys, and Chris Williams – bass. At the Trades there were two changes of personnel with Fee Buckton on trumpet and Ruben Maric on keys. It all underpins the ethics and practice of the Leeds Conservatoire Collective, along with their compatriots, Plantfood. Experimentation, comradeship, resourcefulness and energetic fun. There were no vocals at the Trades Club, but it might be that Mangorata invite guest vocalists to join them on some their new album recordings.
‘Chaos in Chadwell’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSsMZcHmHyk&list=OLAK5uy_ldaZSqZo3d4xDpBFjHi4tq5hNhdHHPoWA&index=2
The Sunday Easy punters at the Trades Club were a lucky bunch to catch this ensemble at a relatively early stage in their musical career.
On their Facebook feed they have announced: “Earlier this year we recorded some beautiful live videos with @mwvisual and visuals, and @benmacdonald on audio and we can’t wait to start sharing what has so far been behind closed doors!!”