In conjunction Abel Selaocoe & the BBC singers concert, was the prepared setup, as the live show recorded for BBC Radio 3 in broadcast of Radio 3 Live concert on Thursday 5th December 2024, at the Milton court Hall.
Presenter Al Ryan gave a triumphant introduction to Abel Selaocoe; South African cellist & singer, as he hit centre stage alongside his band members Fred Thomas (pianist), Alan Keary (electric bass guitarist) & Sidiki Dembèlè (African percussionist), whom all majestically energised the space with traditional South African sounds, rooted deeply with Sangoma & Khoisan cultural infusion. Featuring different layers of tribal rhythms from his vocal cords alone chanting high frequencies of spiritual tranquillity, soothing depths of magical symphonies enmeshed with raw passion, power and precision of harmony, love and identity. The themes of his powerhouse music were all in his song titles; Ancestral Affirmations, Emmanuele, Tsohie Tsohie & Hlokomela to name a few.
Abel Selaocoe & his band played six tracks on the night, all which exuded angelical, sensational as well as hypnotising melodies, taking you into a trance effect with the various instrumental sounds from his magnificent band, alongside Abels’s combination of Sangoma grunts and Mongolian throat singing effects which effortlessly blessed the space.
Abel Selaocoe has a raw talent which is undoubtedly stimulating, guaranteed to send shivers down your spine, with his uniquely diverse & varied heightened sounds effect, where when you close your eyes your senses amplify in his culturally empowering & enriching classical music, both satisfying and rewarding to hear as you see pure enthusiasm, joy & soul driven fulfilment whenever he plays.
BBC singers were conducted by Grace Rossiter, with the choir presenting nine songs during the night also, additionally adding to the melodic background & enhancing the atmosphere when their angelic vocals, creating to the ambience of the rich sounds from Abel Selaocoe & his band.
The entire concert was profound, carrying sentimental weight due to the depths of passion, love, deepness, grace & charisma, as he poured his mastery of libation in different ways to reflect his inner artistic genius. Reminding us all how perfection once mastered in any craft can be equally abstract and therapeutic simultaneously. The multiple streams of creativity explored without fully understanding all the words created a blissful & beautiful dynamic which only became more exciting, warming & demure throughout the performances.
Overall, the venue was perfect at capturing the entire essence of the African fusion of Abel, his band & the performance quality of the BBC singers, especially with the corporation of having audience participation neatly intertwined during various moments, making the concert a collective experience that was buoyant, jovial and deepening. I trust Abel Selaocoe tours will reach new ears in the new year to ensure more individuals get to experience his unique voice activation without reverb nor auto tune. Mind-blowing & extraordinary performance.