Bark the name Astor Piazolla at most people and they will stare
at you like you've gone a bit funny in the head. If, on the
other hand, those people happen to be Ed Simpson and Sylvia
Demetilla, they will smile at you knowingly, for it was a loop
of accordion playing by Mr. Piazolla, dropped by Ed and appreciated
by Sylvia, that brought these talents together and in doing
so sowed the seeds that would grow to become Lautrec.
Formed in the summer of 2002, Lautrec are fairly new on the
scene, but with all the collaborators being accomplished session
musicians, you would expect a polished performance, and tonight
they did not disappoint.
Situated in a deconsecrated neo-gothic Victorian church, 291
seems at first an unlikely venue for Lautrec's blend of dub
bass (from Raphan-Laye Kebe), urban beats and Latin percussion
(Stephen Davies), but scratch just beneath the surface of the
church's history and you discover more ties to music than just
hymns and psalms - it was once the regular haunt of the 59 Club,
founded in1962 by motorcycling priest Father Bill Shergold in
an attempt to reform errant young mods and rockers - even their
bikes could get a blessing!
Sadly, 59 Club relocated in the late sixties and the church
eventually fell into disrepair, but at it's heyday the club
boasted over 10,000 members and chapters can still be found
all over the world.
