Georgia Mancio - Hang 2019

Georgia Mancio

Robert Mitchell (piano/poetry)

Shirley Smart (cello)

Rick Simpson (piano) 

Kim Macari (trumpet/spoken word)

Georgia Mancio (voice) 

Tom Cawley (piano)

9th October 2019

Kim Macari 

Storytelling, soul and compassion was at the beating heart of award-winning vocalist Georgia Mancio’s 3rd Hang this year at Pizza Express. She presented a collection of collaborations that illuminated the art of the lyrical, both in writing and music.

Shirley Smart

For an excellent insight into this year Hang please read Sebastian Scotney's review at https://londonjazznews.com/2019/10/10/where-we-once-belonged-georgia-mancios-2019-hang-at-pizza-express/

A group of multi-faceted artists shared stories, songs and music of their heritage, in reflection of and response to our current times. The night started with Rick Simpson alongside Kim Macari who wove spoken word with improvised solo trumpet in evocative soundscapes, exploring her roots as a Scottish woman. It brought a tearful response from the audience, with one well-known jazz promoter visibly shaken by the depth of feeling.

Robert Mitchell

Pianist/composer Robert Mitchell (True Think, Alicia Olatuja) presented a poetic response to the Windrush scandal in the pin-drop moment of the evening (himself a child of the Generation) with Shirley Smart on cello (Avishai Cohen, Yasmin Levy).

Tom Cawley

The night culminated with a beautiful set by vocalist Georgia Mancio (Alan Broadbent, Liane Carroll) as she leafed through her intriguing family scrapbook from Europe and beyond. With songs co-written with pianist Tom Cawley (Peter Gabriel, Catenaccio) it was an uplifting end to another successful Hang concert. 

Peter Freeman

A special note to the jazz community who came out in force to support Georgia Mancio. Across the tables at Pizza Express it was a Who's Who of the UK scene. Alongside the pubic and jazz musicians was jazz face and serial gig aficionado Peter Freeman.

Rick Simpson

Robert Mitchell's Panacea - Friday Tonic

Robert Mitchell - Piano

It is hard to believe that this was the first visit to the Mastercard's Friday Tonic on the Southbank for Robert Mitchell's Panacea (13/02/2015). Such is the timing and rejuvenating qualities of this weekly dose of quality jazz that it is the very definition of a Panacea itself. Although lets not get swept away by hyperbole, both the Friday and Mitchell's tonic do have the ability to relieve the weekly stress and burden but unfortunately not to cure a multitude of diseases.

Tom Mason - Bass

The 4 piece Panacea ensemble featured the vocals of Deborah Jordan, Tom Mason on bass, and Laurie Lowe on drums alongside Robert Mitchell's piano artistry. It was the latter that brought me to the London's Southbank to right a personal wrong. In 2013 I sketched the Whirlwind Festival (Kings Place) from beginning to end but had to make difficult choices when more than one band was playing. Mitchell was one of the spaces left unfilled in my sketchbook, although he'd been on my hitlist since playing a sensational session for Gilles Peterson in 2006.

Without beating about the bush, Robert Mitchell was impressive from the very start and never faltered in quality. The two opening tunes were new in the Panacea repertoire, the first immediately drew my pen toward Tom Mason on electric guitar, by the second he had caught the ear too. Switching to double bass his bowing was gentle and arching, his sound reached over a spreading expanse. It was music that was hard to grip, a clawing remembrance of something significant in the mind.

Laurie Lowe - Drums

The Spirit Line was another gentle start, as if we were opening the pages of a book. The first lines of this novel were ambiguous and let us contribute to the narrative ourselves . Throughout we learnt only a small percentage of the character's back stories but we still identified with each of them. By the final chapters the piano of Robert Mitchell was raking us over the coals of denouement. A false finish gave the packed crowd an unexpected epilogue. Yet is was less of a conclusion, more of a nod to a future that held multiple possibilities.

Deborah Jordan - Vocals

If the definition of tribute is "an act, statement, or gift that is intended to show gratitude, respect, or admiration." then Robert Mitchell's eulogy to Debbie Purdy was given with openness. It was though we tiptoed through a darkened room, navigating the blackness with our hands held out in front of us. Blindfold or lights out, willing or forced, we walked with a steady pace even though we were apprehensive. Despite the lightness of instrumentation the composition sat heavy on us, like the lingering oppression of a humid sky.

AL