Laid back and in the Groove

A quiet night at the Jazz Bar may not be the best time to see Samba Sene: his smooth African funk is dance music rather than cool jazz, but tonight’s audience are sparse and shy. Three percussionists and a dancer push the beat along and Samba’s hypnotic voice slides across the rolling groove, yet the crowd remains seated. Samba doesn’t give up, but settles into a series of more reflective numbers, crossing into reggae and even a bouncy ballad. A good, solid set, adapting to the mood, but hinting at a fiery musician who has more to offer.

 

Samba Sene and Diwan certainly aim for the world music market – the band’s outfits are almost theatrically African: their shimmering guitar recall the Bhundu Boys – Stuart Dinwoodie’s bursts of kora locate their sound on a sun-dried savannah, and the drumming is complex and melodic. At the same time, Samba is a forceful front man and his songs – whether concise and lyrical or laid-back workouts – reach well beyond any categorical limitations. Even when he is relaxed, he pushes the band and reaches out to the crowd: at the very least, Diwan are cheerful and charming.