Matthew Herbert's Resound concert is sell-out success for cultural relations
Matthew Herbert, headlined a sold-out concert at the Barbican Centre in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the British Council on Monday 26 October 2009.
The evening featured three unique international collaborations in a melting pot of sounds from around the world, followed by a show-stopping performance from The Matthew Herbert Big Band - using big band orchestra, dramatic vocals, the choir of Goldsmiths Ensemble and a blend of electronic and unsual sounds - for polictical and poetic statement and impact.
The first half of the evening saw collaboration from Justin Adams, bass player and musical facilitator of the British Council’s recent Music Matbakh project (also of Robert Plant’s band, and collaborator with Tiniwaren) with Gambian musician Juldeh Camara, violinist Mohamed Medhat, Amy Sacko and special guest Bassekou Kouyate.
The next act was Scottish singer Karine Polwart, who used folk storytelling with wry commentary, alongside Palestinian vocalist Kamilya Jubran.
The final act of the first part of the performance saw Guillemots collaborate with Music From the Penguin Cafe. Performed new versions of each other's music, as well as a new collaborative work.
The second half of the evening featured the show-stopping Matthew Herbert Big Band alongside singer Eska Mtungwazi, and The Goldsmiths Vocal Ensemble in a performance specially created for the British Council's celebrations drawing on .
Read a fascinating blog by a member of the choir and glowing reviews in the Guardian, Financial Times and Telegraph.
Listen to Karine Polwart and Kamilya Jubran discuss their collaboration on Radio 4.
Restless innovator Matthew Herbert is one of electronic music's most versatile and prolific figureheads, a producer who records great ideas and translates them into spectacular live events. He combines a playful pop sensibility with a strictly imposed experimental agenda, sampling sounds including anything from breaking glass, crumpled crisp packets, washing machines, toasters and toothbrushes, set alongside live music. He has remixed and collaborated with artists including Antony Hegarty, Serge Gainsbourg, John Cale, and Björk.
The British Council’s Music Department is renowned for its work with musicians from the UK and overseas. Cathy Graham, Head of Music, said: 'This is a rare opportunity for us to share with UK audiences the diversity of the work the British Council engages in, and the story of the power of music to communicate and inspire across boundaries. In marking the 75th birthday year of the British Council, we would like to thank the artists from around the globe with whom we have worked for the last 75 years and commit with renewed energy to the next 75.'
The event was produced by Serious.
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