Charlie Dark's African Beats, on tour
An unusual Contemporary Music Network UK tour for DJ Charlie Dark and an eclectic one-off band, bringing together jazz, west London's broken-beat scene, West African dance, hip-hop, soul, and technology. Dark has joined up with drummer Chief Udoh Essiet (whose track record includes work with Fela Kuti and Salif Keita) to develop the African Beats' pioneering repertoire, and invited a cutting-edge group of London jazz and funk players to bring it to life. Keyboard player Mark De Clive Lowe, F-ire Collective fusion guitarist Dave Okumu, former acid jazz percussionist Richard Olatunde and Bata drummer Crispin Robinson complete the lineup - while VJ Nathaan Jones provides a visual commentary of images from Africa. It's a formidable initiative.
· The Shed, Hovingham, Sat 8; Contact, Manchester, Sun 9; Jamhouse, Birmingham, Tue 11; The Wardrobe, Leeds, Wed 12; Cargo, EC2, Thu 13; Oxford Academy, Fri 14
