Type and hit ENTER

Commonly used tags...

Brighton Festival Brighton Fringe Brighton Pride British Sea Power Cinecity Lewes Psychedelic Festival Locally Sourced Lost & Found Love Supreme Festival Mutations Festival Nick Cave Poets Vs MCs Politics Rag'n'Bone Man Record Store Day Save Our Venues Six Of The Best Source Virgins Streets Of Brighton Street Source Tattoos The Great Escape Tru Thoughts Unsung Heroes
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Advertise
  • Home
  • News
  • Previews
  • Reviews
  • Features
  • Food
  • Tickets
  • Contact
    • Contact
    • Contribute
    • Advertise
Reviews

Love Supreme Festival 2014 Review

Jul 10, 2014
-
Posted by Steve Clements

After last year’s debut was considered a resounding success by performers and attendees alike, would this year’s return be able to match up and fully establish Britain’s only greenfield jazz festival?

Arriving on the slightly damp site, we were greeted by Brighton’s Neon Saints Brass Band, who marched around the site to kick off the day. It was straight down to business with a midday set from trumpeter Matthew Halsall in the Ronnie Scott’s Big Top that featured pieces from his Eastern flavoured new album ‘When The World Was One’; the combination of harp, piano and soprano sax giving it an early 70s Alice Coltrane feel. 20 year old Nikki Janofsky may have been taken under Quincy Jones’s wing but her perky jazz pop was a little too Matt Bianco for many.

Things livened up with Devon’s ex-punks The Computers, who now favour an indie soul sound. Front man and mischief maker Alex Kershaw somehow pulled off a crowd parting Battle Royale dance off that worked spectacularly well. Over on the main stage Incognito celebrated their 35th anniversary with hits from their Talkin Loud heyday, while tucked away in the leafy tranquility of the bandstand, Normanton Street and The EME both pulled a large crowd preferring Brighton-based talent over Laura Mvula. 90s nu soul star Lalah Hathaway showed her jazz chops on a scatty ‘Summertime’ and gave a very classy rendition of her Grammy winning collaboration with Snarky Puppy.

Al McKay’s Earth Wind & Fire Experience managed a slick set, despite the slight lack of authenticity. ‘Getaway’ was tight and punchy but the male vocals fell a little short on ‘Boogie Wonderland’. The soggy, boozed-up crowd didn’t seem to mind though. With Omar’s set totally roadblocked, there was ample room for the more serious jazzers to check out bass legend Dave Holland’s latest fusion project Prism. The party continued in the Tru Thoughts tent with a lively dancehall set from Wrongtom and a late show from Harleighblu.

Sunday’s opener Jose James was the perfect hangover cure with his rich voice falling somewhere between Bill Withers and Gil Scott-Heron, while the electric piano gave the set a mellow 1970s soul sound which climaxed with ‘Park Bench People’ that uses Freddie Hubbard’s funky ‘Red Clay’ as its template. As soon as Alice Russell walked onstage the sun finally came out for a blissful set that covered her last album right back to 2004’s ‘Hurry Up Now’. Courtney Pine continued his exploration of Caribbean music with a steel drummer and a guest appearance by Omar but his technical brilliance did feel a little self-indulgent at times.

Back on the bandstand the far less grandstanding Ornate Quartet played a mix of 1950s West Coast cool school and a funky take on Charles Mingus. A dash to the Arena tent was rewarded by a very dancey set from Mama’s Gun before hitting the main stage just in time to hear Caron Wheeler sing the opening “Steady, are you ready?” of ‘Keep On Moving’ for Soul II Soul’s crowd pleasing set that ended on a high with a gorgeous ‘Back To Life’.

The best dressed award went to the Christian McBride Trio whose playing was as sharp as their suits in an hour of classy standards that went off the scale with a dazzling Jackson 5 medley. Man-of-the-moment Gregory Porter can’t put a foot wrong as his fame and reputation reach global proportions. For those who managed to squeeze themselves into the Big Top, the rewards were truly great, lapping up every second of the soul jazz star and his excellent New York quartet.

The live music ended on a high with a very playful De La Soul and their tight live band reeling out hit after hit that concluded with the killer ‘3 Is The Magic Number’. The die-hards headed to Russ Dewbury’s Jazz Rooms soundsystem while the rest of us made our way home. Let’s hope the organisers made their money and bring this friendliest of festivals back for a third year in 2015.

Glynde Place, Fri 4th – Sun 6th July 2014
Words and photos by Steve Clements

Love Supreme Festival
Jul 10, 2014
Email
Steve Clements
Steve has been a SOURCE contributor since Summer 2010. Favourite quote - "There's no such thing as a sold out gig".
← PREVIOUS POST
John Grant Review
NEXT POST →
Chuck Ragan Review
Mailing List

Recent Posts
  • Love Supreme Festival 2025 Review
    Jul 13, 2025

    Despite the poor weather, the performers, whether legends or newcomers, shone to ensure this year's festival ranked as one of the best yet.

  • Ghost Stories Review
    Jul 8, 2025

    A genuinely terrifying production, beautifully produced, stunningly acted and wonderfully directed. If you love a good psychological horror; don’t miss this.

  • Oral Habit Release Garage Frock! ep With a Family Store In-Store
    Jul 5, 2025

    Is this the best new band in Brighton? Team Source says "Hell Yeah!"

  • Get Ready For Some Summer Hi Jinx
    Jun 26, 2025

    New promotions team Hi Jinx are inviting you for beer and free live music beside the seaside. What's not to like?

  • Big Long Sun Launch Album No 2!
    Jun 25, 2025

    With two slamming singles the new Big Long Sun album should be the soundtrack to late night summer parties across the land.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 4 Review
    Jun 13, 2025

    Day 4 started with a party whistle thrash punk Extravaganza and ended with the glorious debut of Post Common. We love you TGE.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 3 Review
    Jun 9, 2025

    One of the real joys of the Great Escape is you can often see the bands that really grab you more than once. Day 3 delivered.

  • Great Escape 2025 Day 2 Review
    Jun 7, 2025

    Day 2 provided a diverse range of acts. Within 30 minutes we went from beautiful Australian folk to riotous Korean DnB and that was before tea time!

Website developed in Brighton by Infobo
Copyright © Brighton Source 2009-2023
Love Supreme Festival Review - Brighton Source