Myele’s drumming mesmerised
Peckham Levels has become an established South London venue over the years, growing more comfortable while retaining the charm of its former life as a multi-storey car park — the concrete pillars and faded parking bay lines are very much still part of the furniture. For an intimate gig in the round it works perfectly, and on Friday evening it played host to Myele Manzanza as part of the Ronnie Scott’s Lates tour, writes Katie Kelly.
I came to this as a live music lover rather than a jazz aficionado, but that proved no barrier. A technical delay pushed the start back by around an hour and a half, and once underway, Manzanza addressed it warmly — thanking the audience for their patience, generously introducing his bandmates and guests, and expressing with self-deprecating humour his gratitude for the number of people turning out for his avant-garde approach to the genre.
The music was worth the wait. The set opened with an extended piece that blended lounge jazz warmth with something more symphonic in feel, lifted by high-energy solos. A guest vocalist was electrifying on Wasted Time, and a track from the album Crisis and Opportunity brought real emotional depth. Throughout, the improvisation and interplay felt natural and unforced — which, as with any discipline that looks effortless, points to a great deal of talent and hard work behind the scenes.
Standing just a few feet from Manzanza himself, I had a close-up view of what world-class drumming actually looks like. The fluidity, dexterity, and sheer physical force were something else at that distance. At one point, playing at full speed, he lost a drumstick — and didn’t miss a beat while it was retrieved and returned to him.
The Lates tour dates have now finished, but at £15 a ticket, this was outstanding value. It’s well worth watching for a return. This particular non-jazz fan will be first in the queue — and may even be tempted to make the trip to the original Soho venue.
Check out all gigs at Ronnie Scott’s: https://www.ronniescotts.co.uk/
