Saravah Soul – Saravah Soul

Saravah Soul ‘ Saravah Soul

BY CHRIS PEKEN

For all its dark, damp pubs, warm beer and lack of winter sunlight London has never suffered from a lack of cultural inputs. From the West Indian reggae that ignited The Clash to the current melting pot that has produced the likes of Nitin Sawney and M.I.A.
Half British half Brazilian Saravah Soul is the latest addition to that pot. Fronted by Otto Nascarella, Saravah Soul take their lead form the jazz-soul-funk sounds emanating out of Brazil in the 60’s and 70’s. On stage Nascarella reportedly borrows a few chapters from the James Brown Book of Performing Live and adds some break dancing of his own (not evident on the recorded product!). In the studio this eponymous debut showcases a tight Latin funk band, with some sweet horn lines, and musicians uncluttered in their presentation, unlike too many of the others in this genre. Indeed the space surrounding the tight funk base and jazz brass forays is the highlight of Saravah Soul showcasing the talented cast of players that includes bass virtuoso Matheus Nova and drummer Eduardo Marques.

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