Dub Colossus Dub Band – With The Ethiopian jazz and traditional styles

Dub Colossus are one of the most exciting fusion bands of recent years, thanks to their inventive blend of Ethiopian jazz and traditional styles, dub reggae and atmospheric instrumentals. But that doesn't always ensure a good payday. Their leader, Nick "Dubulah" Page, complains they have had to turn down concerts because the fees were insufficient to cover the cost of flights and visas for the Ethiopian members. So, for this show, Dub Colossus line up with only their British-based members present.

The band's new album, Dub Me Tender, consists of songs from their back catalogue, along with new material – and here gets a completely new treatment, with the emphasis firmly on dub. Performing the album live for the first time, in a packed, late-night venue in Hackney, Dubulah stood at the back of the stage playing guitar, half-hidden behind an impressive 11-piece band. It included three brass players, keyboards, percussionists and three celebrated guests, including singers PJ Higgins and Mykaell Riley, of Steel Pulse fame. The bass work so crucial for any dub reggae band was provided by Winston Blissett, who has worked with everyone from Massive Attack to Robbie Williams. As for the Ethiopian singers and instruments that made the original Dub Colossus so special, they could only be heard on samples, mixed into the set by Toby Mills, who also provided the live dub effects.

The result may inevitably have sounded more Jamaican than African, but as the debut of a new experimental band it was highly encouraging. The furious dub effects and driving reggae rhythms were matched by sturdy jazz solos from brass and keyboards, while Riley and Higgins provided stomping vocals for cover songs that included the Tapper Zukie favourite MPLA, and Fun Boy Three's The Lunatics Have Taken Over the Asylum. A great show, but I hope those expensive Ethiopians are not forgotten.
http://www.guardian.co.uk