140 Newington Butts
Thu 10 Sept · 19:00 · £21.50
An immersive journey through rhythm and sound Evening In The Universe occupy a musical world entirely their own. Drawing together the exploratory spirit of European jazz, the rhythmic textures of Senegalese percussion and a contemporary approach to effects and sound design, the London-based quintet creates music that feels expansive, hypnotic and constantly alive. At the heart of the group is an extraordinary three-part percussion section. Sean Quinn’s talking drum and electronic effects meet Saul Eisenberg’s found percussion, created from recycled gas canisters and pieces of metal, alongside the fluid energy of Filippo Galli’s drum kit. Together, they produce an ever-shifting landscape of rhythm that can feel like a bustling marketplace, a procession or a gathering gradually moving towards a collective trance. Against this rhythmic bedrock, bassist JJ Stillwell and saxophonist Tashomi Balfour weave melodic narratives filled with space, tension and striking interplay. Simple melodies rise through the surrounding movement, cutting through the sound with clarity before being drawn back into the ensemble’s swirling musical universe. EITU’s performances move effortlessly between quiet contemplation and feverish dance. Freedom and unpredictability are essential to the band’s sound, ensuring that every performance develops its own character and that the musical journey is never experienced in quite the same way twice. With support from The Isaac Harari Trio Opening the evening, The Isaac Harari Trio presents an exploratory take on contemporary jazz shaped by influences from across the musical spectrum, including Latin grooves, math rock and progressive metal. Led by drummer and percussionist Isaac Harari, the trio combines technically intricate compositions with open improvisation and spacious musical interaction. Vibraphonist Lewis Kentaro-Isaacs and bassist Eliot Whitehouse complete an unusual and highly expressive line-up, moving between detailed rhythmic passages, atmospheric textures and spontaneous musical conversation.
Not the same tradition as the lineage above — a genuinely different thread to pull, if you want one.