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Live
Reviews
“De
jimbe showed great professionalism and a perfect mastery of
certain African instruments.... a perfect symbiosis of traditional
African, Caribbean and Irish rhythms”
Ousmane Mbaye, Scoop, Senegal
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“Like
the Pied Piper of Hamelin, De jimbe lured curious onlookers
to the steps of the National Concert Hall with loud rhythmic
beating of drums. The distinctive Afro-Celtic sounds could
be heard as far off as St Stephen’s Green, enticing evening
strollers..... proving very popular with the audience.”
Sue Carter, Irish Times
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“Two
opposite sides of the Celtic music coin - the experimental
by mixing traditions and the cerebral in tapping into the
music's rhythmic forces were on show tonight at Dolan's Warehouse
in Limerick's Dock Road Following Grada's excellent opening
set, my thoughts for De Jimbe were that their work was cut
out for them.
However
the Irish/African outfit had a trick up their sleeves and
opened in style with Brian Fleming and Bisi Adigun entering
the hall from the back entrances on dueling dejembes - the
cris-cross rhythms setting up a percussive dialogue while
the remaining band members ambled on stage. 6/8 (Lagos to
Lacken) laid down the tone for the night with superlative
interaction. The similarities with Kila are in the line up
lay out but the resultant sound is different as De Jimbe works
its own unique spell. On stage Breton flautist Gwen Frin,
her tall statuesque frame wrapped in PVC trousers and a De
Jimbe t-shirt (as all the others bar bassist Brian 'toolbox'
O'Toole wore) cut a commanding figure. The remaining De jimbes
Hugh O'Byrne on drum kit, djoun djoun, kenkeni, sang ban,
bells, maracas, timbales. Mayo born uilleann piper Pádhraic
Ó Láimhín also a member of Osna, bassist
Brian 'Toolbox' O' Toole and guitarist/vocalist Joe Brennan
completed the line up.
New member
Joe Brennan is something of a discovery a passionate vocalist
with a rugged voice ably suited to traditional and contemporary
material. A refreshingly different version of Richard Thompson's
'Galway to Graceland' deserves recording and their epic 'Cogadh'
featuring 'Paddy's Lamentation' was hammered out angrily by
Joe Brennan beating seven shades of pulp from his guitar.
Meanwhile Bisi, Gwen and Brian exited stage left to arrive
back in authentic 18th century Civil War outfits proving that
theatricality and music go hand in hand in the De Jimbe camp.
Percussion duels also like Kumpo (Gurrier in Guinnea) and
Senkrofleming outlined the inherent tribal nature of De Jimbe's
music while O'Carolan's Welcome to Am Lima transported Turlough
O'Carolan to Nigeria while the closing 9/8 " An Phis
Fhliuch Ghorm showcased all aspects of the story - pulsating
jungle rhythms and Irish traditional expertise in full flight.
Inviting Grada back on stage a wild uninhibited two-encore
long jam session ensued with thirteen musicians on stage flaking
out tunes like their lives depended on it and also improvising
at a moments notice flying off in all directions going everywhere
from Dakaar to Dublin and back again.
Traditional
Ireland and traditional Africa met with high-octane results
and cris-cross rhythms exploding with happiness. It was hot,
sweaty and heady- a great gig no questions about it."
John O'Regan, May 2002.
For print media use only. Electronic media
use only by author's permission only.
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