SambaSunda
Posted by: Mansoor on 20 July 2006
My head is still reeling from watching them last night at the QEH. An astonishing performance, easily the best gig I have been to in a long time. This is how a good live concert should be: great acoustics, the feel of an intimate venue and performers whose unbridled enthusiasm and excitement is obvious in their music. It was very difficult to sit still and inevitably, dancing quickly broke out at the front of the stage - and some of the performers came down and joined in.
SambaSunda is a fifteen piece outfit who play Indonesian Sundanese music. Hailing from Bandung in Indonesia, they play mostly their own compositions, which are a modern take on gamelan based pieces. However, the result is very fresh and original, not sounding at all like a typical "world music" east/west collaboration - they stay true to their roots. The music is a mixture of instrumentals (over which members of the band will shout encouragements or chants) and songs, sung by the very talented Rita Tila. They have also been the backing band for Sabah Habas Mustapha, aka Colin Bass, ex of 3Mustaphas3, on his solo projects.
SambaSunda are playing a number of European venues for the rest of July and August and I highly recommend trying to see them.
SambaSunda is a fifteen piece outfit who play Indonesian Sundanese music. Hailing from Bandung in Indonesia, they play mostly their own compositions, which are a modern take on gamelan based pieces. However, the result is very fresh and original, not sounding at all like a typical "world music" east/west collaboration - they stay true to their roots. The music is a mixture of instrumentals (over which members of the band will shout encouragements or chants) and songs, sung by the very talented Rita Tila. They have also been the backing band for Sabah Habas Mustapha, aka Colin Bass, ex of 3Mustaphas3, on his solo projects.
SambaSunda are playing a number of European venues for the rest of July and August and I highly recommend trying to see them.