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I am continually amazed by the cool little places hidden amongst the winding side streets of Tokyo. You can literally spend years walking through the same areas and still have no idea of the numerous treasures it houses. Take Udagawa Cafe for instance. Tucked inside a Shibuya alleyway, the chilled out cafe has a fantastic loft-style performance space on its second floor. The intimate room provided the perfect backdrop for a night of mesmerizing belly dancing and unique music. Tabla Kwaiesa's Shinshi and Ken performed a brief instrumental number with accordion player Mananbu to open the show. Ken cast aside the instrument that dominates Tabla Kwaiesa's infectious rhythms, darabukka, in favour of an oud. As the three wrapped up their song, a trio of dancers Asuka, Yuriko, and Yuuki, made their way to the stage. Performing an excellent choreography that featured lots of skirt work, their dance was well-received by the near capacity crowd. 
Eshe emerged from the stairs leading to the loft as an oriental piece floated from the speakers. The enchanting performer slowly moved from table to table, pausing to do hip circles as the ladies in attendance oohed and awed. As the song progressed, Eshe's cute, flirtatious nature began to shine through as she alternated seductive and coy faces whilst belly dancing. A chorus of "kawaii"s from the audience ushered her on stage for the second track of her set. Shimmying to the traditional beat, her beaming smile and playful, yet elegant style had everyone clapping along.Shinshi and Ken re-merged to create more captivating music. Where as Tabla Kwaiesa's live shows thrive on energy, movement, and crowd participation, tonight's stripped down performance provided a much different glimpse of Middle Eastern sounds. Seated on sofas at the rear of the stage, the two talented players' selections were more subdued than their usual work, but were just as entertaining. The lights dimmed as Mananbu sat down on the edge of the stage and began filling the venue with wonderful, warm accordion sounds. Clad in a colourful gypsy costume, Zilli tip-toed through the crowd, stopping along the way to gaze into the eyes of audience members. Like Eshe before her, it took little time for Zilli's personality to emerge in her dancing style. Uninhibited and full of passion, she's like a beautiful fairy prancing and moving her body, filling audiences with the joy dance has brought to her life. Twisting and spinning around on stage, her glowing face mirrored those of the spectators. 
Eshe kicked off the second set with a bang as she shimmied towards the stage to the theme from James Bond. Wearing a white, pink, and silver costume, the fun continued as she hopped up on stage for her second number. Her lively dancing was accented by a hint of cheekiness that saw her experimenting with different facial expressions and intentionally holding poses for a second too long. The audience ate up her sassy, whimsical antics, laughing and cheering her on. Much more comfortable amongst her new-found friends than on stage, the gorgeous dancer spent her third song cozying up against the girls up front and getting them to do small shoulder shimmies with her. Making her way to the stairs, she blew kisses to Shinshi and Zilli before heading to the stage for her finale.After another short collaboration by the three musicians, Ken and Shinshi launched into "Samai Kurd" as Zilli danced around on the floor below. Bounding onto the stage, she magnificently maneuvered from side to side, her long hair flying around as she wildly spun and shook her hips. Pausing to bow as the song faded, she soon began clapping the beat for "Longa Shahenaze". The audience picked up on the Turkish rhythm and joined in, followed by Ken, Shinshi, and Mananbu. The band began to play quicker as the pace of Zilli's belly dancing increased. With the energy level in Udagawa Cafe rising, she reached the climax of her set and thrust her arms high in the air as the music cut out. |
report by shawn and photos by Sayacafewedding |
 mag files : Tabla Kwaiesa Groove Is In The Heart : (05/03/06 @ Yokohama Silk Road Buto-Kan) : review by shawnExpansive Rhythms : (04/12/04 @ Cozmo's Cafe and Bar) : review by shawn interviewI Need A Beat ... A Beat : (05/07/12) : interview by shawn, photos by Gen |
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The official site Zilli Eshe Tabla Kwaiesa |
check the albums? |
| 2005Needs To Be Seen To Be Believed : Shibusa Shirazu Orchestra (16th Oct. @ Yokohama Thumbs Up)DVD review : RGB : sianspheric (17th Oct.)Something Old And Something New : Time Bomb Records 15th Aniversary Feat. Blind Beast (Thurston Moore+Jim O'Rourke+Yoshimi), The Evens (Ian MacKaye+Amy Farina) with Ruins alone, Tamio Inoue (18th Sept. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)Half Hour Of Power : Punkrockers Bowl Vol.11 Feat. Razors Edge, Melt-Banana, Wrench (10th Sept. @ Shinjuku Loft)A Mind Is An Awesome Thing To Blow
: Fantomas & Zu (5th Sept. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)With A Little Sake Always Makes For A Good Night : Cubismo Grafico Five with Sakerock (27th Aug. @ Liquidroom Ebisu)Cool Sounds From The Underground : "What's That Sound?" Feat. Four Tet, Caribou, Mugison (20th Aug. @ Laforet Museum Roppongi)Expect The Unexpected : Metalchicks with Kiiiiiii and Asa-Chang & Junrei (16th Jul. @ Shibuya Lush)All The Young Dudes : Jude (10th Jun. @ Yokohama Blitz)The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades : Date Course Pentagon Royal Garden (6th Jun. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)The Life Aquatic With Yo La Tengo : Yo La Tengo (28th May. @ Laforet Museum Roppongi)The Little Things : Boom Boom Satellites (29th Apr. @ Shibuya AX)Interview : Insanely Brilliant : Les Savy Fav (30th Apr.)Organized Chaos : Shibusa Shirazu (17th Apr. @ Shibuya Club Quattro)Socially Aware And Ready To Party : Asian Dub Foundation w/African Head Charge (10th Apr. @ Shibuya AX)Nice And Simple : Jimmy Eat World (4th Apr. @ Shibuya O-East)Nothing A Few Sweets Couldn't Fix : Lemon Jelly (29th Mar. @ Shibuya AX)Groove Is In The Heart : Tabla Kwaiesa (6th Mar. @ Yokohama Silk Road Buto-Kan)Interview : Constantly Evolving : 90 Day Men (13th Mar)It's Party Time! : The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, The Benevento/Russo Duo (28th Feb @ Shibuya Club Quattro)Weekly Service : The Chemical Brothers (12th Feb @ Shibuya AX)Tattoos and a Whole Lotta Hair : EXTREME THE DOJO Vol.12 feat. Every time I Die, As I Lay Dying and Shadows Fall (7th Feb @ Shibuya Club Quattro)Geography At Its Best : ISIS (5th Feb @ Shibuya Club Quattro)To The Extreme : The Shins (31st Jan @ Harajuku Astro Hall)CD review : "Panopticon" : Isis (27th Jan)Winter Be Damned : Ash (17th Jan @ Shibuya AX)Interview : Peaceful, But Far From Quiet : Mono (20th Jan)CD review : "The Nein" : The Nein (13th Jan)2004CD review : "Christmas" : Old Man Gloom (28th Dec)Music Soothes the Savage Beast
: eastern youth (20th Dec @ Shibuya Club Quattro)And to all A Good Night : Shonen Knife (19th Dec @ Daikanyama Unit)Exciting Music for Exciting People : illreme (6th Dec @ Shibuya Club Quattro)Expansive Rhythms : Tabla Kwaiesa (4th Dec @ Cozmo's Cafe and Bar)It's In Their Hands Now : Franz Ferdinand (29th Nov @ Shibuya AX)Lights, Camera, Action : Brahman (15th Nov @ Ebisu Liquidroom)Mostly Business : The Stills (8th Nov @ Ebisu Liquidroom)Scare The Rock Right Outta Ya : Halloween Ball 2004 feat . The 5,6,7,8's, Gasoline, The Woggles (30th Oct @ Shiomkitazawa Shelter)Three More, Two More, and Take it to the Left : Hawaiian6/ Idol Punch (11th Oct @ Shinjuku Loft)Busting Eardrums : Mogwai (5th Oct @ Ebisu Liquidroom AX )Medical Breakthrough : The Most Notorious Vol. 18 feat. Melt Banana and K.K. Null (25th Sept @ Shimokitazawa Shelter )Grey Skies Are Going To Clear Up... : HUSKING BEE (5th Sept @ Shibuya AX )no title : V∞REDOMS (8th Aug @ Ebisu Liquidroom )CD review : Andre Ethier With Christopher Sandes : Andre Ethier |