Natash Atlas review
by Karen
When I read on the Orientaldancer website that Natacha Atlas was playing in Nottingham I nearly fell over with shock. Such an amazing voice coming to a venue near here? This I had to hear. So on 30 September I and my beloved turned the car to the Nottingham direction and set off. Now you know how you have things planned - and somehow it just doesn't go according to the plan, well that's what happened here. Actually I thought it was quite a minor point that I had taken us to the wrong University, who knew there were TWO universities in Nottingham? I mean it's not like I live there so should know, and anyway if HE had taken the proper car instead of his new tonka truck, we would have had satnav - so it's his fault! The security guard at the wrong university was very helpful after he had finished laughing, and gave us directions to the right university, which was quite close by and we were there within about 15 minutes.
We took our seats on the front row of the lovely little Djongly theatre which seats about 220, and it was pretty much full, and enjoyed the warm up act. This was Clara and the cool Low-downs who played an interesting jazz set. You may be interested to know that they are the opening act for the British Jazz Festival which starts next month. After a short interlude the Mazeeka ensemble came on with their doyen, Natacha. I was surprised to see that the entire team of Clara and the cool Low-downs were in fact members of the Mazeeka ensemble.
What can I say? An hour and three quarters just flew by. Miss Atlas held us spellbound in her tiny hand, releasing us only to clap to the beat and Ulla. The set was principally the album 'Ana Hina' and was performed magically. The members of the Mazeeka ensemble are great musicians but my personal adoration goes to the percussionist, who used the loudspeakers for tabla drums, wicked! Clara Sanabras cool voice complemented Natacha's and the interplay between them all was musical in itself. Then towards the end Miss Atlas did a very elegant dance - stylish graceful elegant, everything we aspire to be.
A truly stunning evening and well worth the ticket money. She is on tour here now and for venues you can find her by logging onto www.myspace.com/natachaatlasofficial
by Karen
When I read on the Orientaldancer website that Natacha Atlas was playing in Nottingham I nearly fell over with shock. Such an amazing voice coming to a venue near here? This I had to hear. So on 30 September I and my beloved turned the car to the Nottingham direction and set off. Now you know how you have things planned - and somehow it just doesn't go according to the plan, well that's what happened here. Actually I thought it was quite a minor point that I had taken us to the wrong University, who knew there were TWO universities in Nottingham? I mean it's not like I live there so should know, and anyway if HE had taken the proper car instead of his new tonka truck, we would have had satnav - so it's his fault! The security guard at the wrong university was very helpful after he had finished laughing, and gave us directions to the right university, which was quite close by and we were there within about 15 minutes.
We took our seats on the front row of the lovely little Djongly theatre which seats about 220, and it was pretty much full, and enjoyed the warm up act. This was Clara and the cool Low-downs who played an interesting jazz set. You may be interested to know that they are the opening act for the British Jazz Festival which starts next month. After a short interlude the Mazeeka ensemble came on with their doyen, Natacha. I was surprised to see that the entire team of Clara and the cool Low-downs were in fact members of the Mazeeka ensemble.
What can I say? An hour and three quarters just flew by. Miss Atlas held us spellbound in her tiny hand, releasing us only to clap to the beat and Ulla. The set was principally the album 'Ana Hina' and was performed magically. The members of the Mazeeka ensemble are great musicians but my personal adoration goes to the percussionist, who used the loudspeakers for tabla drums, wicked! Clara Sanabras cool voice complemented Natacha's and the interplay between them all was musical in itself. Then towards the end Miss Atlas did a very elegant dance - stylish graceful elegant, everything we aspire to be.
A truly stunning evening and well worth the ticket money. She is on tour here now and for venues you can find her by logging onto www.myspace.com/natachaatlasofficial
