Morito Music is back!
Morito Music nights draws from the wealth of talent and musical variety in East London. The fully immersive experience sees the musicians play in the middle of the room, whilst you watch from the banquette seating, in Morito's stylish new basement space.
MORITO MUSIC NIGHTS
The evening of music and food (sharing plates) costs £30pp.
There is one sitting per evening: 6.45 - 7.15pm arrival.
Tuesday 7th December: Congo Latino Band
In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Congolese musicians fused Congolese and other African traditional music with Caribbean and South American sounds – rhythms that were not entirely foreign to the region, having been founded to varying degrees on musical traditions from the area. This type of Congolese Rumba is now called Soukos, after the French word 'secousse', meaning to jolt or jerk.
Congo Latino are masters of this exhilarating musical tradition, with Eugine Makuta on vocals, Kawele Mutimanwa on guitar, Kibisi Douglas on bass and Jean Claude Ntita on drums.
Tuesday 18th January: Caskie Trio
As a songwriter, Imogen’s music spans genres from RnB and Soul to Indie Pop, evoking a young Joni Mitchell in her lyrics, and is influenced by Brandi Carlile in her musical exploration. As a trained musical theatre performer from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, she has a powerful and intimate stage presence both when playing alone with her cello, or accompanied by a full band. She was born and raised in Australia until she was seven and feels a strong connection to both her birthplace and England, where she has lived since.
Tuesday 1st February: Zurito
Zurito's story echoes through the Thames River, in South West London, where they started their musical collaboration. Zurito's unique sound blends Spanish Guitar flamenco-influenced original music with Rumba/Gypsy grooves, adding Latin and Caribbean ingredients through their basslines. Bringing interesting original compositions inspired by their many travels, Zurito's performance will take you on the many roads of Europe with them. An emotion-stirring pain killer that you will want to try again and again.
Tuesday 8th February: Yuko
Yuko, Yaz and Karim perform a mix and blend of their cultural roots; Japanese folk meets North African, Mediterranean and Middle Eastern music.
Yuko Tsubame is a London-based singer and musician who plays the sanshin (a traditional Japanese instrument with three strings). Her sound is melancholic and transportive, percussive yet delicate. Yuko has cultivated a song repertoire and style that really goes places – from Minyo; Japanese folk and Nastumero; old school J-pop to vintage jazz. Yaz Fentazi (Oud) perform and give the audience a magical sense of ‘travelling’ in their minds with their very colourful and rich music that draws on the vast traditions of jazz, blues, classical and North African/Middle Eastern music.
Tuesday 15th February:Freshly Cooked Music
A very special improvised collaboration between Morito Music curator Crispin Forster with musician Raphael White, cellist Ruby Moore and drummer/percussionist Francesco Mendolia. Very much inspired by Morito's new event space the four musicians throw their individual musical ingredients into the sonic cauldron, seeking to create a delicious acoustic feast. Raphael weaves swirling sublte grooves with acoustic guitar spiced with electronics while Ruby's cello adds a deep richness to the sauce. Clarinet and Saxophones weave in and out of the mixture bringing world flavours from the Balkans, Persia and the Levant. The addition of the extremely talented Francesco Mendolia moves the music towards more driving rythms and harmonic patterns.
With influences in blues, jazz and country, Ma Polaine has drawn comparisons to many. With references to Billie Holiday, Tom Waits and a “moody Mary Margaret O’Hara”, Ma Polaine’s sound is very much their own. Beth’s distinctive, emotive vocals coupled with her evocative lyrics create a compelling mix of abstract tales, dark humour and raw beauty, whilst Clinton’s understated guitar style supports with rich chords and gritty riffs. Playing live as a duo the songs become sparse versions of themselves, but the sound is a full one, Beth’s electric and double basses anchor the sound, with occasional accordion and harmonica, leaving Clinton to play with the space in between.
Tuesday 1st March: Lisa Marini
A progressive fusion of folk and jazz. Lisa Marini brings profound emotion to her music and performances; combining beautifully crafted songs, infectious guitar picking and a defiant voice. Marini has performed on the main stage at Wilderness Festival, at the O2 for the Blues Festival and in some of London’s most prestigious venues, including The Jazz Café, Ronnie Scotts, The Green Note and The St Pancras old church. Her music has been played on Jazz FM, BBC Scotland and her self-recorded EP, From The Bedroom Den was used for a documentary about refugees in New Zealand.
Tuesday 8th March: The Gulls
The Gulls are a four-piece rock and roll band living out on the road, the gritty old-fashioned way. Their lifestyle is reflected in their music - daring, audacious and full of surprises.
The true genesis of The Gulls began when they set out in August 2020, touring through the pandemic. Their music was constantly being born in the back of their campervan, which carried them through Europe and landed them at a derelict chateau in France, where they recorded their debut album. With the album freshly released and a dedicated new following, The Gulls have a fresh perspective for what the post-COVID music industry has to offer.
Tuesday 15 March: Sun Cutter (aka Kevin Pearce)
The eponymous debut album from Sun Cutter (aka Kevin Pearce) is released in January 2022 on Bronzerat Records. The first single ‘Daylight Star’ found love on BBC Radio 6 Music with Marc Riley, Mark Radcliffe, Tom Robinson, on Absolute Radio, and US radio.
Sun Cutter hails from Colchester. Three years ago, he suffered a heart attack (on a golf course). As well as having to redress some lifestyle habits, his rehabilitation involved writing and recording the Sun Cutter project. It is an album of beautiful driving, harmony-drenched indie-soul and folk-rock that looks to the light for reflection. Co-produced with Dean Honer (The Moonlandingz, Eccentronic Research Council, Pins), it is at times reminiscent of some purveyors of classic songwriting, such as Tim Buckley, John Lennon, Cat Stevens, albeit with a modern do-over.
Tuesday 29th March: Midori Jaeger and Ella Hohnen-Ford
After their mesmerising performance in October, Morito Music is delighted to have a return visit from these extremely talented and creative musicians who complement each other so perfectly.
Cellist, singer and songwriter Midori Jaeger has paved her own intricate and intriguing sound world with pizzicato cello riffs and serene vocals gliding effortlessly through warm, groove-led songs. Ella’s open ears and interest in a broad variety of styles has produced an unorthodox and genre-defying approach to writing and interpreting music. She is drawn to redefining the role of vocalist and narrator, blending her skills as an improviser and storyteller in the art she creates.
Tuesday 5th April: Kat Eaton Quartet
Cardiff born, Sheffield raised and now living in the capital, Kat Eaton has steadily been making a name for herself over the last few years in the UK, as well as overseas and has established herself as one of the hardest working and talented performers in her field. Fresh off the back of two sold-out UK shows to celebrate the release of her debut album ‘Talk To Me’, Kat is getting ready to go back out on tour, supporting Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra in December.
