Music Blog

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• PHOTO BY MATT DETURCK
• Ibrahim Electric performed at Montage Music Hall.

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.

click to enlarge PHOTO BY MATT DETURCK Ibrahim Electric performed at Montage Music Hall. click to enlarge PHOTO BY MATT DETURCK Ibrahim Electric performed at Montage Music Hall.

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.