An eclectic mix of people packed into Montage Music Hall to see Ibrahim Electric's second show. The Danish trio started off with a vibrant swing sound that quickly evolved into something more. There were elements of soul, jazz, and even a healthy amount of rock in each tune. Some songs were strung together with interludes, reminiscent of the kind of rock-centric acts that often take the stage at Montage.
The members of Ibrahim Electric were dressed casually and played with a fervor I haven't yet seen at the festival. Each musician was very physical in his playing -- almost frantic. The songs themselves were expertly composed. Every piece had a definite but never predictable direction. Overall, the performance was probably the most dynamic I've seen this week.
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Although Montage is clearly the perfect venue for the act, it seemed like some of the audience felt out of place. With such energetic performers on stage, I was surprised to see people motionless in the crowd. A patchwork seating area had been set up where folks would normally be standing, but I wondered if we'd have been better off without the tables and chairs.
Stiff audience members aside, Ibrahim Electric's performance was definitely a highlight of the festival for me. Tomorrow, I'll close out my Jazz Fest experience with two female vocalists whose styles are worlds apart: Norma Winstone and Ester Rada.