The Black Saint and The Sinner Lady by Clod Ensemble & Nu Civilisation Orchestra -★★★★☆
Jazz has, since its conception, been associated with deep thought, and deep feeling.
The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady is about feeling. What does the music say to you? How does it attach itself to your body, and what does it want to say through it? The motto is: more light, more power. And we were instructed to “let the music move through you”.
Upon entry, the vibe is strong. There are plaited ropes hanging from the ceiling, the Nu Collective Orchestra are elevated above us on a platform ready to serenade the evening. The Clod Ensemble dancers are littered around the room, and you know who they are by Marianthi Hatzikidi’s costume design alone, as they blend into the crowd, gisting with spectators and making us feel comfortable. I speak to Maisie, a dancer adorned in a floor length, aluminium finish dress who assures me that I’m in the right place, noting my look of confusion. When I ask her how she’s feeling about the show she tells me that since its success at Shoreditch House, she feels the show has a new lease of life; there are less constraints here and she mostly wants the audience to feel what the music makes them feel. And that is an apt way to summarise The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady Barbican — it’s all about feeling.
Eventually, we meet our host, the stunning Chloe Carterr who breaks down the experience for us. It is not so much a show, as it is a night out dancing with soulful music and a warm buzz in the air. There is no narrative but there are characters. There's no real story but you get the sense that a world is being built for these characters' lives to play out.
The experience is divided into 2 acts. The first consists of three original compositions by the Nu Collective, and the second comprises the entirety of The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady. We begin with an upbeat number, encouraging everyone to find their own rhythm and move with abandon. The second number is slower, smooth and melancholic. It is peppered with motifs that feel reminiscent of modern R&B, with a strong emphasis on the blues. The dancers lead the audience in a powerful step and spin, before dominating the dancefloor with powerful solos. There are moments where you cannot tell audience member from performer; there is so much fluidity and rawness in the movement. But then, each dancer has a moment to take the centre and truly showcase the depth of their talent.
Every character is distinct from the other, one has a drunken candor that brings a charming cockiness to his movement, while another is precise, and tight but bold. The instrumentalists transport us to 1920s Harlem, before the first act closes with a soul train number, taking the audience to the back of the stage before parting us down the centre like Moses with the Red Sea, and bopping through the centre. It is difficult to watch and not feel the urge to participate, curl around your inhibition. The music is infectious, but seeing the enjoyment of everyone in the room makes it impossible to keep still.
Charles Mingus' The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady, arguably his seminal work, is made of four different tracks but is one continuous composition. In an incredibly impressive feat, Peter Edwards, musical director of the Nu Collective Orchestra transcribed the piece by ear, and allowed his beautiful band to breathe new life into the piece. Edwards explains that Mingus might not be as well known as some of his peers, but he is one of the greatest jazz musicians of all time. His style is threaded with jazz and classical music but also elements of African music and South American themes.
Without prior warning, the experience could be a bit overwhelming. There was no pressure to join the dancers, but as the orchestra played on, even the shyest of wallflowers started to edge their way closer to the circle, in the hopes of catching the eyes of one of the dancers who would stretch out their hands and invite them onto the dancefloor.
A beautiful night, with brilliant vibes and delectable music, The Black Saint and the Sinner Lady is truly one of a kind.
The Black Saint and The Sinner Lady was showing at The Barbican from 16—19 April.
★★★★☆
By Melody Adebisi
