honest

The Honest Jon's label of the UK is really on a roll right now. In the last 6 months they have released a fantastic Algerian traditional music CD, several amazing Tony Allen remix/rework 12"s (highlights from the series are collected on a recent CD/2LP), a CD/2LP of West African music in the UK from the late 20's, and the lush debut CD by chanteuse Simone White. Their forthcoming titles are just as exciting. These include the imminent release of a collection of early 78s from the EMI Archives and a collection of music from Baghdad from the late 20's, and later an album by The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble (all 7 are sons of Sun Ra trumpeter Phil Cohran). Last night at The Lincoln Center in New York City label co-founder Damon Albarn pulled together the various interests of the label and presented a fantastic 2 hour performance under the banner "Damon Albarn's Honest Jon's Revue". It's remarkable how well the 20-odd performers from various countries and musical styles worked together. They were all on stage for the duration of the single long set, and performed in different combinations, some also solo. Present were Damon Albarn, Tony Allen, Afel Bocoum, Kokanko Sata, Lobi Traore, Simone White, Candi Staton and band, The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, guitarist Simon Tong and, oddly, Victoria Williams. The Revue format worked extremely well for the Honest Jon's stable. Southern Soul singer Candi Staton, who has released new material through the label, as well a compliation of her late 60's/70's work, seemed especially at home in the Revue context. A highlight of the set was hearing The Hypnotic Brass Ensemble perform "Sankofa" (a standout track on the recent Allen remix/rework comp) with Tony Allen on live drums. The seven horn players have a generally bad-ass vibe about them and proved that they are a devastating unit, capable of playing in a classic Afrobeat style on Tony Allen's numbers, while also making Victoria Williams's caterwauling almost bearable by providing a tasteful backdrop. The night succeeded in presenting an overview of the label's far-reaching diversity. As the crowd was being seated, the late Moondog was being played over the sound system, from a compilation of his work released on Honest Jon's. Sure enough, during the show Albarn, Staton's drummer and the Hypnotic Brass performed a version of his "Rabbit Hop", after which Albarn announced that it was a Moondog tune and that he had "lived just up the road". Newcomer Simone White dazzled the audience with 2 solo numbers, one from her solo debut CD I Am The Man and one I did not recognize. Kokanko Sata, Lobi Traore and Afel Bocoum all appeared on Albarn's Mali Music album, which launched the label in 2002. Sata plays a traditional eight-stringed lute, and is said to be the only woman who is capable of playing this difficult instrument. Bocoum had the appearance of a Malian John Lee Hooker. Damon's contribution, aside from the obvious organizational duties, was understated. He mostly provided organ and melodica accompaniment, and danced a lot. The closing number was the only one he sang on, and it tied the evening together with a big blowout at the end. No encore, no intermission. Everyone seemed pleased, as well they should have.