Soweto Kinch – White Juju
London Symphony Orchestra; Lee Reynolds
LSO Live (lso.co.uk)
Perhaps one day there will be a genre of pandemic music studied and discussed like Baroque, bebop etc. This genre could include music composed during the lockdown when live concerts mostly stopped and White Juju would be a substantive contribution. Soweto Kinch is an award-winning alto saxophonist and composer who played several concerts in smaller centres in England at the end of the first lockdown. Walking along empty streets he noticed the “imperial emblems, flags and statues” that tended to go unnoticed during busier times.
These experiences led to the creation of White Juju, which pairs his jazz quartet with the London Symphony Orchestra to create a magic carpet ride of hip-hop, rap, jazz, dance hall music, classical influences and lounge music, all while expounding on themes of colonialism, racism and class struggles. For example, Dawn begins with some sparkling and impressionistic flutes moving into strings and oboe presenting a Peer Gynt Sunrise vibe, then some soft horns and the rhythm section develops a jazzy hip-hop beat. After some gorgeous instrumental sections Kinch begins rapping over top (“the world looks different when it’s put into reverse”) and then embarks on a bop-influenced saxophone solo. The 16 sections of this live performance contain many surprises and White Juju combines humour with beauty while offering original political insight.
