Sunday, August 31, 2008

Cinematic Orchestra...

What a treat Montreal shared with us last night: a stellar performance by the Nu Jazz/ electronica band Cinematic Orchestra. We first heard them in London last summer and got totally excited by their mixture of jazz improvisation, techno/urban grooves and liberation lyrics from a decidedly urban realm. Jason Swinscoe has created a top notch group of artists who are committed to both blending improvisation with the new art of "sampling," and taking the experience of a concert to new heights of emotional, intellectual and spiritual community building.

To my clearly limited ear they sound like a fresh combination of Philip Glass, Gil Scott-Heron, Nina Simone, Malcolm X, Roger Waters, John Coltrane and Jay Z with a UK sensibility and a ray of light amidst the darkness. Listen to this prayer/riff/jam/lament/ode to the Spirit and tell me you don't think God is alive and well and at work in our world...

2 comments:

Cosmo said...

What a great sound. I've got to get some of this. Lots of spiritual significance in this song. What God-lover wouldn't want to have his ruach breathing across them, taking them deeper into the things of God?

"Breathe in to me, and breath out through me."

I hope Nick picks this one up and explores this band on his blog.

RJ said...

Oh I am SOO glad you like these cats. They are really powerful. And I hope Nick picks up on them, too. I am going to do some theological work with the Cinematics in the next few weeks, too. Be well.

time to say goodbye for now...

Resting by the shores of Lake Gardner has been restorative: the gentle waves breaking on the stones, some geese and a mallard duck came to v...