Tucked in between the curry houses of Brick Lane, Café Suki played host to a musical underground movement, Kindred Spirit’s Acoustic Sundays.
A far cry from the eastern flavours served around, this healing lounge mixed a blend of British vocal and poetic spices, slowly baked to create a dish worth sampling.As you enter you’re welcomed by spacious and sophisticated surroundings, cosy leather settees mostly placed central to the stage, with others tucked discretely in corners.
Before the place got grooving at around 8pm sounds of 70’s and 80’s rare groove, funk soul flowed bringing back memories of Pringle jumpers, pleated skirts, curly perms, boogie boys, jazz dancers, all-dayers and soul weekenders.
Eventually the show kicked off with a warm welcome by Kindred Spirit (KS) founder Michelle Escoffery, then Jnay, winner of Mobo Unsung Award 2003, took over as MC for the night. He led the performances with “Where Do We Go” accompanied by Kindred Collective musicans on guitar and drum. The drummer was none other than actor, Justin Pickett, best know as Sean in the hit sitcom Desmonds.
Next, Sharlene Hector took centre stage to bless us with powerful vocals. Her ankle length orange/green smock dress matched her summery tone bestowing sunshine on her audience. Sweet Brazilian flavours got toes tapping whilst her braids swayed as she sang “Sing to Me” followed by “Bye Bye Angel” about meeting the right person at the wrong time.
Inua ‘Phaze’ Ellams flexed his linguistic muscles and recited his poetry with great delivery, and passion, susticulating in time with his rhyme. His parents silver wedding anniversary inspired “25.” Linking his flow with bad jokes, and singing MJ’s “Annie are you ok, are you ok Annie?” with an African accent, had the crowd howling with laughter.
“Want Your Love” introduced us to Vula. This bubbly and excited Hackney girl, with lots of personality, helped pen Basement Jaxx hit “Oh My Gosh”. Her deeply soulful voice sat perfectly on “If You Want It.” She plugged her upcoming appearance at Jazz Café as support for Loose Ends.
Rocking back and forth on her toes Verse, guest US poet, passionately recited “Kaleidoscope,” and her phenomenal verbal dexterity showcased profound use of imagination with her star-spotting poem “Armageddon.”
Petite, Sky Montique, sang a song of freedom, “Songbird,” which touched the soul and had the listeners hypnotised. She ended with her signature tune “Bringing You Something (Remember Me)” advising us never to forget her name.
Other acts were female duo, Indigo Brown, hip-hop acoustic Me 1 and finally soultress Michelle Escoffery.
Now in its seventh year, KS have recently moved from their residency on the Southside to East London. I’m not sure if this switch caused the head count to dwindle or it was because of a reluctance to wake with Monday morning blues, but the crowd was pretty sparse.
Disappointedly, when the live music stopped, just before 11pm, and the dancefloor opened everyone had disappeared, so I had to strut my funky stuff with a handful including Gina Yashere (who I must say looked fantastic having dropped a number of dress sizes. She’s hit the US comedy scene with her brand of observation and made LA her new home).
The flier boasts “great music, great people and great food with a Caribbean twist.” Don’t know about the food, but they got it right on the other two. It’s time this hidden treasure trove was shared with the citizens of a city that needs to simply turn up, relax and soak up the great atmosphere.
Where: Café Suki, 12 Osbourn Street (leading to Brick Lane), London, E1 6TE
When: Monthly, next Sunday 7th October 2007
Time: 6pm till midnight
Cost: £7 or £5 with a KS Badge
For information visit: www.kindredspirit.org.uk www.myspace.com/kindredspirituk
