Music

Review

Introducing Soul Mama: your new favourite jazz night

Improvisational jazz, a wholesome community atmosphere, and a unique Afro-fusion culinary experience – Soul Mama is your next London outing


What do you get when you combine the spontaneity of contemporary Jazz, a purple glittery stage, and some of the best fusion cooking that London has to offer? You get east London restaurant venue Soul Mama, a dining experience celebrating the vibrant culinary and musical cultures of Africa, the Caribbean and South America. Founded by acclaimed saxophonist and composer YolanDa Brown, and creative entrepreneur Adetokunbo “T” Oyelola, Soul Mama’s aim is for “food and music create an experience as unique and diverse as London itself.”

And at Jon Onabowu‘s show at Soul Mama on 8 November, that description was more than apt.

The Venue

Located at The Gantry Hotel in Stratford, this ritzy restaurant has an inviting warmth on entry, with both staff and attendees sharing a familial kindness, and an appreciation for soul and jazz music. The community-minded, utilitarian approach extends to the set-up of the room, with each table featuring comfortable seating and a clear view of the stage regardless of where you are. Co-Founder T is present, welcoming guests, chatting to audience members, contributing to the family feel. Whether you’re a regular at jazz and soul gigs and you’re looking for a new place to experience music, or you’re a newcomer with no prior knowledge of the genre, everyone is welcome to and within the space. I even sparked up a conversation with the lovely ladies who sat in the table beside me, and they mentioned how comfortable the space was, and more importantly, how respectful everyone is of each other and of the artists performing on stage.

The Music

But just because everyone is respectful, that doesn’t mean that the audience is quiet. Quite the opposite, actually, as everyone in attendance was rowdy and unabashed when giving applause, or ad-libbing sounds of praise whenever the musicians played something great – which was often. I was lucky enough to catch drummer, composer and band leader Jon Onabowu, alongside his band members INSXGHT on piano, David Mrakpor on keyboards, François Fasano on guitar, and Nathan Bossoh on bass.

Onabowu is a regular in the jazz scene, having played Pizza Express Live, Aflie’s in Soho, Montreux Jazz Festival, and Ronnie Scott’s, where he hosted his own jazz night, Cosmic Fusion. It’s a gig where everyone on stage is so comfortable, playing overtures and improvisations from Onabowu’s upcoming jazz project. Playing a show in two halves with an intermission in between, Onabowu is quite literally the pulse of each song, shifting time signatures with ease while allowing each member of the band to shine. The familial atmosphere of the venue is the perfect backdrop for Onabowu’s charismatic performance style, which includes riffing with band members, dancing in his chair, slyly smiling when hearing positive reactions from the audience, speaking directly to us after each solo, and even teaching the audience jazz gig etiquette. “How many of you have been to jazz show before?” he asks to a crowd who responds enthusiastically, eager to impress the drummer. “Well you’re supposed to applaud after each solo, even while the song continues.” The song that follows is accented by whoops and cheers after each musician exhibits their prowess – a particular standout is keyboardist David Mrakpor’s improvisational style of playing, which surpised even the members on stage. “Did anyone record that? We need to add that improv to the album,” Onabowu asks the audience, after giving us all a gold star for responding to his jazz etiquette lesson.

The setlist veers from funk to R&B to neo-soul, all with a Kamasi Washington-esque experimental jazz approach at the core of every song. Interpolations of Jaco Pistorius’ ‘Portrait of Tracy’ transcend into a contemporary classic jazz groove that could easily be a Slum Village sample, all while sounding distinctly fresh. Some songs have lengthy introductions and titles, others are spontaneous and untitled – one of which felt so spiritually charged it caused a shift in the audience. A call from a musical gospel. “The atmosphere just shifted in here so I think we’ll call that one, ‘Worship.'”

The Food and Drink

Under the direction of Executive Chef Aleandro Brown, Soul Mama’s family ethos extends through to its food, offering michelin-star twists on Afro-Caribbean classic dishes.

Soul Mama’s menu prides itself on delivering a fusion culinary experience, with influences of African, Caribbean and South American cuisine. Attendees can enjoy a blend of meat and plant-based dishes, including jerk oyster mushroom arepas, small plates of pepper prawns or an autumnal sweet potato and squash salad, or even a one-pot ital stew meal. The kitchen is accommodating to dietary requirements, and the bar offers an assortment of cocktails, wines and soft drinks to round out the meal. Plus, on their weekly brunches – which feature performances from House Gospel Choir, Funky Dory, and KoyeSax & the Fortune Collective – don’t miss their bespoke brunch menus.


Spend your December at Soul Mama – find tickets to here