EVENTS

GIL SCOTT HERON @ BLACK SWAN 13 July 20001

Reviewed here due to lack of space elsewhere. Big thanks to the efforts of the Soul Train Collective in bringing the top man to Bristol. His gigs in the north for early July were cancelled and I heard bad reports of his gig in Barcelona a week ago. It was therefore not without a little scepticism that I was approaching this.

This was one where I think I should forget the critic in me, sit back and think what I've just witnessed. Yes, I've just seen Gil Scott Heron in a packed sweaty club, perform a set of one hour and a half, standing ovation, yes Gil Scott Heron. In the cool of the morning I felt yes that was good. I'd heard so much about his performances - from the brilliant to the banal - but for me it was good.

Yes there was criticism I guess and it was a long and interesting night. I spoke to Paul Alexander one of the promoters at about 10.30 and at that time there was still only a 50:50 chance of him appearing. But he eventually hit stage about 12.30 and by then the place was buzzin, with people dismissing the scepticism in a local magazine, and at £17.50 it was pretty expensive.

Basically it was typical Gil Scott Heron, he did he popular stuff with it's poetic meaningful lyrics over a laid back jazzy groove. Starting off solo but bringing the band on through the in opening number. The Sound System was excellent but I didn't feel it was quite right and the balance was a bit wrong but the songs got through. The audience were well up for it and the band seemed appreciative of that.

Some of the songs were a bit overextended and I suppose are all a bit samey but he was on stage for a good hour and a half including a well deserved encore. The pre encore percussion break was very good but a bit too long.

Yes now I've seen THE man.

(c) Life & Soul Promotions