Da Lata Conquer London’s Jazz Cafe with New Album “Edge of Blue”
This Sunday evening, Da Lata performed at London’s Jazz Cafe to celebrate the official release of their new album “Edge of Blue”. It was a night filled with sun-drenched grooves, Brazilian rhythms, soul, jazz-funk and trip hop, showing that the band can still draw a full house after more than 25 years.
The support act by Trinka warmed up the audience, while DJs Patrick Forge (alongside Chris Franck the other driving force behind Da Lata) and Marc Brown (the DJ from Franck’s previous band Smoke City) built a warm, dance-ready atmosphere for the night.
When Da Lata took the stage, the band’s familiar chemistry was instantly felt, eventually growing into a collective of nearly 15 musicians on stage. Frontman Chris Franck’s guitar playing led the songs, supported by the deep basslines of bass monster Matheus Nova and the complex percussion of Satin Singh and Stomp founder Carl Smith, who kept the rhythms sharp and danceable. The collective stood solidly and only grew tighter as the set progressed, thanks to additional guest musicians such as Mike Patto and Level 42 keyboardist Mike Lindup.
The concert opened with the recognisable single “Rio Vida” from their debut album “Songs from the Tin”, a track that immediately pulled the audience into a familiar tropical atmosphere. Their debut single “Ponteio”, released even before that successful album, followed and boosted the energy even further, but the evening ultimately revolved around the new album. The new tracks “Musa”, “Caberá” of the “Edge of Blue” album showcased how the band combine their rich experience with fresh rhythmic and harmonic experimentation. Still, the band occasionally reached back to older work, such as the wonderful “Um Amor a Mais” from “Fabiola”. And yes, the voices of Bêmbè Sêguè, Vanessa Freeman and Carolina Lelis were powerful and captivating, blending harmoniously throughout.
“Ronco da Cuica” became one of the highlights, performed in an extended version that had the entire venue moving. The rhythmic drive was masterfully carried by percussion and bass, while the vocals and melodic lines floated through the room, thanks in no small part to Finn Peters from Amsterdam on flute and saxophone. The dynamic, lengthened arrangements offered space for subtle improvisations and interaction with the audience. Forge, who after his DJ set had the evening off as producer, wandered through the crowd with a wide smile, visibly enjoying the dancing room and adding an intimate, personal touch to the night.
“Boca Seca” from the new album, along with “Thunder Of Silence” from “Birds”, demonstrated the band’s versatility, shifting between danceable grooves from drummer Marcinho Pereira and more introspective passages. The glorious “Arena” became another highlight, and together with “Sway” from the album “Birds” it balanced energetic rhythms with calmer, melodic moments. With “Pra Manha” from “Songs from the Tin”, Da Lata brought the set back to where it began, closing as they had opened, with Mike Lindup stepping onto the stage one final time—something he has been doing regularly with Da Lata for 25 years.
It became a steamy dance celebration that lingered in the mind long after the set ended, before the band returned for the encore with the new track “Vento”, bringing the evening to a hopeful and festive close. Sunday night showed that Da Lata, even after 25 years, remain one of the UK’s most inventive and compelling acts. “Edge of Blue” brings Da Lata slightly back to their roots in strength and direction, while clearly showing that the band has continued to innovate throughout their long career.
