The Hackney Colliery Band

Unique and Uplifting experience
It was my first time seeing the Hackney Colliery Band, so not sure if it's always like this - but I'll definitely be going back to check them out again.
It was billed as a collaborative show.
As I walked in there was someone sitting on stage with a trumpet."Oh, tuning up / sound check" I thought. A few minutes later I realised she (Robyn Steward) was still sat there playing along with some backing: she was there as intro music. I'm not rushing to buy the album, but an interesting start.
Then on came The Roundhouse Choir. I'm not in the habit of going to see choirs (but then, I'm not in the habit of going to see jazz bands), but it was beautiful, original music sourced from ... not sure where but I think they said one number was a Finnish folk song. I'm sure you could fault them somewhere, but their pleasure at performing shone through and everyone was captivated. Then during their last number, the HCB came on and started playing with them. This was the only downside of the evening - it ended up more as playing over them as the brass overwhelmed the voices.
Then into the HCB set proper, starting with a cover of Heart Shaped Box still with the choir: and I was swept away. The guys are clearly 'real' jazz musicians (they do solos and improvise is what I think I mean by that!) but they mix it all up with covers to keep the general public (me!) on board and introduced special guests (a singer - Selena Seballo, a couple more sax players) and did various numbers with various combinations of guests, all in a danceable and hugely enjoyable way. It all led up to a finale of their trademark Prodigy cover and ultimately an equally trademark encore of Toto's Africa with everyone back on stage.
I didn't stop smiling until well after I was back home. A great night.

Fantastic - again.
So I've now seen HCB twice and what can I say except that if you like the live music experience - see them. This time it was at the Barbican - not quite the small sweaty club I saw them at last time. But just great. It was still on the theme of collaborations, which this time included the Roundhouse Choir (again, and again so moving and committed), but also spoken word from Rob Auton (so much better than I expected), and even live jazz painting (yes!) from Lisa (sorry didn't get the last name), plus Yva (a great vocalist) and many more traditional jazz guests. And I don't even listen to jazz.
And they didn't disappoint with the odd cover version, including Africa.
If you love music - just go see them.
PS it probably isn't normal for Barbican audiences to dance - but we did!

Wow! What a night - what a band! I go to a lot of gigs but this was really special - I have not seen HCB live before but will definitely be going to see them again. Best live band I have seen for a long time. Great musicians, fantastic upbeat music and just makes you want to get up and dance and smile! Driving rhythms and upbeat brass - it doesn't get any better than this!