Antibalas offered a mix of the popular and the obscure, played with vigour and brought to life by an exciting line-up of guest vocalists

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In the event programme, Antibalas founding musician Martín Perna reflects on the legacy of the Queen of Soul. ‘Aretha is on a different musical plane… Doing a show like this is a humbling experience; how do we show our appreciation, our gratitude? It’s really important to keep celebrating her, to say her name, to get together to grieve her loss. Aretha is part of the great American canon of music – if that wasn’t clear when she was alive, it’s definitely clear now that she’s passed on.’

At the top of the show, Perna explained his intention to capture the eclecticism of Franklin’s catalogue through a purposely ‘irreverent‘ selection of songs. Indeed: from the bluesy ‘Nobody Knows The Way I Feel’, to the raw gospel of Franklin’s reading of ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’, and to the upbeat pop/soul of ‘Jump To It’, the set dotted around Franklin’s discography with confidence. Antibalas, an afrobeats ensemble hailing from New York, were joined on stage by the House Gospel Choir on backing vocal duties. The night began cautiously with a pedestrian take on Chain of Fools, an afrobeat-inspired ‘Deeper Love’ meshed with Fela Kuti’s ‘Shakara’, and a slightly unwieldy ‘Jump To It’. The sound mix was a touch messy at first. Yet the set picked up immediately upon the introduction of the guest vocalists.

British jazz star Zara McFarlane displayed impressive control and vocal agility on ‘I Say a Little Prayer’, before tearing through a brassy ‘Hello Sunshine’ and adding a scat breakdown to Franklin’s breakout hit ‘I Never Loved a Man’. Also representing British soul was Alice Russell whose scratchy belt (reminiscent of Lulu) was put to rousing effect on ‘The Weight’.

After a tentative ‘Day Dreaming’, American hip-hop/jazz artist José James hit his stride with ‘Don’t Play That Song’ and delivered one of the night’s standout performances with ‘Nobody Knows The Way I Feel’ (originally by Dinah Washington), paced beautifully by Antibalas with streaks of organ from Christopher Doyle flowing into a big band climax. While Aretha Franklin tributes tend to favour the belty and rangy female voices, James’ crisp low tones were a welcome counterpoint.

The petite Bettye LaVette, currently enjoying her belated but much-deserved recognition, gave a fiery performance of ‘Lee Cross’, a forgotten tune from Franklin’s Columbia days prior to her breakthrough with Atlantic Records. LaVette explained her close friendship with Franklin’s sister Carolyn, a formidable songwriter and strong vocalist herself, and how she had asked to record Carolyn’s song ‘Ain’t No Way’ before it was given to Aretha for her Lady Soul album (1968). LaVette’s voice – with each crevice and nuance baked in soul and grit – has the ability to make most songs sound unique. LaVette gave a centered and exposed ‘Ain’t No Way’, smartly retiring the backing vocals (a signature feature of the original recording) and phrasing the song in her own style.

Activist, singer, and songwriter Nona Hendryx, once part of Labelle, took the night to its finish with an empowering ‘Think’ and a testifying ‘(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman’. All five vocalists returned to the stage for an encore of ‘Respect’, each calling out the musicians behind them. Celebrating their twentieth anniversary, Antibalas are in their prime. Throughout, they played with vigour and irrepressible flair.

(Image copyright: Michael Davis)