Next in line at the Cable Inglés concerts on 24/7 was the youth band Big Bandarax.
Once again, I realize how powerful music is — how easily a good concert can sweep you off your feet… That day, I had just returned from a trip. A full day on buses, in the heat, running around, exhausted. Still, I wanted — even for a little while — to hear this band I’d heard so many great things about. So, I ignored my fatigue and went. And within minutes, as if by magic, my low spirits disappeared!
Defying the wind and clouds that messed with their sheet music, twenty young musicians played with all their heart. They invited everyone in the audience to share their joy and have fun with them — to dance to jazz rhythms fast, slow, nostalgic, wild, but above all… magical!
What stood out in this concert — and I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who noticed — was the dialogue between the instruments. They began as a team, playing in harmony, following a common rhythm. But soon, the piano had something of its own to say, with the pianist’s hands gliding quickly, as if dancing across the keys, while the rest of the instruments went silent in a gesture of respect. And then — bam! — the percussion joined in with an equally powerful solo, taking over the lead. Then back to the piano, then back to percussion, followed by a trumpet or a saxophone solo — and finally, the whole orchestra joined in again.
That playful exchange of musical conversations, which I noticed in most of the orchestra’s pieces, kept me completely engaged — like watching a movie with an unpredictable ending. I kept wondering, along with the rest of the audience, “What’s going to happen next?” Through this almost theatrical performance, the audience was carried emotionally from sorrow and nostalgia to joy, cheerfulness, and even mystery.
The performance was stolen, of course, by the guitarist, a young player on electric guitar, who clearly lived every chord with passion. Also worth mentioning: the clarinet, whose solo was both sweet and commanding — with the clarinetist expressing the music not only through sound but with his entire body. And finally, the singers, whose improvisations in perfect balance between melody, tone, and energy — especially during “Sunny” — made me admire the younger generation’s drive for creativity.
And the success of the concert wasn’t just mine to feel — the audience erupted in applause the moment the final note faded, cheering the band with all their strength.
Bravo to Big Bandarax for their outstanding, high-energy performance!
Review by Zoi Michailidou
Photos by Emilia Studnicka
