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TANTRIC JAZZ, BRISTOL |
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Send us your review:
Describe the atmosphere and live music at a local pub, restaurant, festival, church or temple, club night.... inspire other people to check it out!
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Venue: Tantric Jazz
Music: Jazz / World fusion
Location: 39-41 St Nicholas Street, Bristol
Tel: 0117 9402304
Reviewer: Lisa Maria Goucher
Secreted in a quiet Bristol avenue, Tantric Jazz spirals through trad jazz relatively unheard - until you step in the door, that is. Once inside, this clandestine jazz franchise ignites and captivates even the disinterested listener. Thankfully, there's nothing even vaguely pretentious about it. Elitism has been forfeited in favour of overflowing hospitality and a good old-fashioned welcome.
This impressive evening of freestyle jazz, held every Monday night, is Tantric's version of open mic, inviting the public to jam with the in-house band, Jazeera.
From Latin to New Orleans, come and lend the band your style for an evening (if you think you can keep up with the swirling conversational jazz of this strong pianist, bass relationship - one obviously crafted through time). This is an evening that proves jazz is truly a performer's art, a genre that takes joy in the performance and variety of sound, its deadpan musicians lost in the pure effort of it all.
 It's also an evening that showcases embryonic talent otherwise obscured in anonymity. If instruments aren't your forte you could always seize that mic in a resounding rendition of the obligatory 'Summertime' as did Bristol's undiscovered Nina Simone tonight. When the young Miss Bradbury couples up with the silky vocals of Kizzy Merrell, their honey tones blend perfectly, screaming for the duo to be discovered. Their recital of 'The Shadow of your Smile' is particularly stirring, ascending as their voices swell and travel through this intimate caf茅.
As the night wears on amidst relentless swing jazz, the air fills with laughter and the surrounding tables merge into an amiable communal mass - if you can hear the jazz over the delight of the audience, you're probably not at Tantric Jazz!
 Tonight Jazeera are lent a hand by the sound of a decidedly Memphis guitar - giving them a contemporary rock twang but I wonder if their sound will be recognisable next week amongst new singers and artists. Endless possibility seems to be Tantric's maxim.
Tantric Jazz regularly plays host to all manner of music, citing itself as a world music venue. Amongst its eclectic regulars is a publicly acclaimed African Soul night and Django Rheinhart tribute. One thing is for sure - Tantric Jazz genuinely has something to offer everyone!
Web site:
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Your reviews:
 'Jummy plays like a Lagos joint...'
  'not even the organiser, knows what's on the programme'
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 '...break dancing, body popping, karate chopping...'
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