Jazz Africa: Live at Pizza Express

I can’t think of a better way to end the summer than with a night of jazz, funk and afrobeat with a stellar sextet led by the extraordinary Basil Hodge.

Pizza Express Live in Soho was sold out and unsurprisingly so. Basil bought his compositions and arrangements of some belting tunes. Joining him on stage were Tony Kofi (saxes), Stuart Fiddler (guitar), Andrew John (bass guitar) and the brilliant pairing of Winston Clifford (drums) and Cheikh Diop (percussion).

Hodge had the audience clapping before the music even started, and that set the tone for an evening of mutual joy.

Cheikh Diop and Winston Clifford

Tunes included Soul Makossa by Manu Dibango - which got everyone clapping from the very start - and then Fela Kuti’s Shakara. The arrangements allowed space for extended solos from each of these exceptional musicians, and some lovely pairings that saw phrases and musical themes swapping between them.

Basil Hodge, Tony Kofi and Stuart Fiddler

As well as several tunes by Manu Dibango and Abdullah Ibrahim, there was also space for a Hodge original, in the shape of Habanera, taken from his debut album My Guardian Angel. Throughout the night, the audience was entranced by extended solos from Hodge and Kofi and some simply beautiful improvisatory play between Clifford and Diop.

The final tune to send us all on our joyful way home was Niger Mambo, composed by Bobby Benson and made famous by pianist Randy Weston.

Check out future events with Basil Hodge and his ensembles here