Chiminyo’s NRG 4 plugs in for debut Late Late Electronic show at Ronnie Scott’s
Thursday, March 7, 2024
An evening of spontaneous compositions fuelled by the contemporary sounds of Hip-Hop and Electronica with some of London’s leading new talents
This live gig hosted by drummer and bandleader Chiminyo (aka Tim Doyle) at Ronnie Scott’s was many things simultaneously: an evening of spontaneous group composition and free improvisation, a live album recording soon to be self-released on NRG Discs, and the inaugural event for Ronnie Scott’s brand new Late Late Electronic series. Straddling the fine line between organised chaos and creative ingenuity, the band crafted a jazz-infused electronic sound that was urban, modern, and raw.
Chiminyo is a powerful drummer with a gift for laying down infectious grooves. He skilfully led the band through a range of tempos and dynamic ranges – from the chilled lofi hip-hop of Yussef Dayes to the frenetic electro-jazz of The Comet is Coming. He was joined by tenor saxophonist James Akers, keyboardist Lyle Barton, and live electronic soundscape artist D’Vo, alongside harpist Marysia Osu and the ever-impressive bassist Daniel Casimir who alternated between upright and 6-string electric. This wide array of timbres was used to maximum effect, and, despite having never played together, the band played with impressive freedom and collective cohesion. Each musician was given space to improvise freely, and Akers and Barton excelled in their search for new melodic motifs.
Surprise guest appearances only enhanced the electricity of the evening. Havana-born Berlin-based alto saxophonist Regis Molina dazzled with his technical fluidity and soulful spiritualism, and South London singer BAELY added a rich neo-soul flavour to the setlist.
This gig marked the first of many upcoming events set to feature in Ronnie’s new Late Late Electronic series, which will host many more innovative electronic jazz groups every other Tuesday night over the coming months. Be sure to check out scheduled gigs featuring the likes of Qwalia, Tom Dreissler Trio, and GOODMOOD – to name just a few. Ronnie’s certainly have their finger on the evolutionary pulse of 21st century jazz with this new series.
