Bruce Freedman and his African Groove Band

It was a great night at the Cellar last night.
The Bruce Freedman African Groove Band held centre stage for two lyrical grooving sets of improv. The band consisted of two drummers: Russell Shumsky on African drums, Dan Gaucher on kit drums, two bass players: Tommy Babin and Dave Chokroun, and Tyson Naylor on accordian and Bruce Freedman on soprano sax.

The music consisted of simple, beautiful melodies and arrangements that allowed for interplay in those involved in the various orchestrations that Bruce had laid out for the listerner. It was great to hear Russell Shumsky in this setting. He was extremely expressive and obviously enjoying the room there was in the music to make it breathe and vibrate. I especially loved how dynamic the band was. It was really evocative of acoustic African music with the woody sound of the acoustic basses and the beautifully timbrous sound of the drums. The accordian and soprano often doubled or harmonized the melodies lending an other worldly sound that you don’t often hear.
My friend Francis Yehoun, recently back from visiting his home in Ghana, said that when he closed his eyes it reminded him of being a young boy back at home. He said that the melodies and grooves were really reminiscent of music that he grew up with.

It was wonderful to have a good turnout too. There’s nothing like a room full of appreciative people to make a band play its heart out.

Check out upcoming shows at www.noworchestra.com/events