Review of: PETE LOCKETT'S NETWORK OF SPARKS FEATURING THE AKWAABA DRUM ORCHESTRA. PURCELL ROOM 16/7/01

Review by Mark Walker

For tonight's performance Pete calls on an eclectic group of musicians to perform an amazingly varied yet coherent show. Opening with Simon Limbrick on Balafon and African master drummer Nana Tsiboe on congas and djembe, while Pete plays his trademark tablas, the trio create a trance like groove that ebbs and flows, setting up the audience for a very special evening. The highlight of the first half for me was a beautiful duet, in which Pete takes a back seat role on the Spanish cahon to accompany Nana's glorious M'bira and harmonious vocals, that together produce a haunting and ethereal ambience.

More ethereal moments come in the second half of the show when Simon makes some incredible sounds by bowing the vibraphone while Pete creates some live sampled loops.

The stage is filled at times by the Akwaaba drum orchestra, a disparate group of drummers who together make a fantastic and highly authentic African sound to accompany Pete's stalwart solos.

Previous Network of Sparks collaborator Bill Bruford comments in the interval, " I'd forgotten how brilliant Pete is." Very true.

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