Flowing under red stage lights and in front of a projected art piece, Shabaka, British multi-instrumentalist, jazz-composer and band leader filled the Salt Shed on September 29th with a tranquil atmosphere as part of the Warm Love Cool Dreams music festival in Chicago.
The multi-genre festival spanned two days. Dedicated to warm, intense music, day one featured musicians like Sextile, a post punk band, and The Jesus Lizard, an American rock band, returning from a performance hiatus since 2018. Shabaka performed on day two of the festival, dedicated to cool, ambient music, headlining with Kelela, a contemporary R&B and electronic musician with angelic vocals, and featuring Sister Nancy, a prominent Jamaican singer. Fusing a plethora of sounds, the festival attracted a wide variety of listeners.
Shabaka’s hour-long set provided a perfect introduction to the diverse sounds of the rest of the night. Along with Charles Overton on the harp and Austin Williamson on the drums, Shabaka graced the audience with a light-hearted stage presence, overtaking us with the vibrations of his instruments.
Matching the spirit of diverse sound imposed by the festival, Shabaka’s eclectic collection of instruments, specifically flutes, define his eccentric music, especially on his latest album, Perceive Its Beauty, Acknowledge Its Grace, which he shared during his set. He introduced the audience to a Mayan drone flute, explaining how the instrument unlocks deeper imaginative capabilities for him due to its under-researched heritage. Shabaka ended his set with the shakuhachi, an ancient Japanese bamboo flute, which he picked up during the 2020 quarantine. Commonly used in Buddhist meditation, the shakuhachi produces a mellow sound, which contributed to the relaxing effect of Shabaka’s music.
The sounds of Shabaka’s flutes enclosed the audience, creating a peaceful crowd of serene smiles and gentle dancing. Melodies echoed through the floor, sending visceral vibrations zipping through the body, instilling bliss throughout the room. Warmed by the stage lighting and Shabaka’s charismatic energy, the set made a wonderful addition to the Warm Love Cool Dreams festival. A prolific creator with imaginative spirit, Shabaka is one to be remembered.