Love Supreme festival

Billed as the first ‘al fresco’ jazz festival for nearly 50 (yes, 50!), Helios had his hat on, and it was all hip hip hip hooray! Lady luck indeed for this inaugural festival held at the splendid environs of Glynde Place, an event that appealed to an older, perhaps less festival savvy crowd, one who may have suffered unforeseen consequences if the heavens had opened…

As it was, the very ambitious A Love Supreme got off to a good start, with large numbers there on the Saturday to see an impressive and eclectic line-up that featured a kaleidoscopic performance from disco legends Chic, headed by Nile Rodgers, a man whose CV is beyond impressive. Headliner Bryan Ferry and his trad-jazz Orchestra were always going to to find it hard to follow that, and fail they did, not helped by Ferry’s overly languid style.

Elsewhere, Michael Kiwanuka’s easy going retro folk-soul, Courtney Pine’s afro-caribbean-jazz fusion whirlwind, and the various Brighton-based jazz acts on the intimate Bandstand stage generally impressed, while the Robert Glasper Experiment was one of several acts who not only were not able to grasp the ‘line check’ only needs of a festival, but suffered from a poor sound, something that was a surprising and negative aspect for the festival as a whole. Party vibes continued into the early hours on Saturday with White Mink’s electro swing sounds.

Full of day trippers, folding chairs, and an air of affluence, Love Supreme was blessed by exceptional weather, was well organised and full of great music, if lacking in non-musical entertainment that truly marks out a festival.

Glynde Place, 5-7 July 2013

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