Sons of Kemet

George Square Spiegeltent, Edinburgh

THE Mercury Music Prizenominated Sons of Kemet are a jazz fusion powerhouse reeling in new audiences with their irresistible double drummer action – did someone mention Adam & the Ants? – and stellar frontline of Shabaka Hutchings on saxophone and Theon Cross on tuba.

Together, this toast-of-londonquartetdeliveredaserious blast of hipster cool through a

sweaty Spiegeltent, beginning with a light dusting of percussion, Cross providing the bass rhythm and Hutchings taking flight to a higher plane.

The unfolding trip made the most of the dynamic contrast between the urgency of Hutchings’ playing and the cheeky character of the tuba against the tight, skittering backdrop provided by drummers Tom Skinner and Eddie Hick.

The dance party crossover potential was considerable, with members of the capacity crowd even wearing neon raver necklaces. There was a teasing sparsity to some of the set, but the up-for-it audience responded to the slightest provocation from Hutchings’ throaty tones.

Although there was fun to be hadwithcross’sfoghornblasts and precise parps against that propulsive percussive drive, it was Hutchings’ melodic interventions which always raised the game.

From there, it was an easy task to ramp up the rhythm, with the band layering on

seductive and eminently funky Afrobeat and Afro-caribbean influences to bring the set home in ecstatic style.

FIONA SHEPHERD