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Simon & Garfunkel, Sonny & Cher, Oxide & Neutrino – some of the greatest sounds have been made by duos. This week, London welcomes two such legendary pairings. Don’t miss your chance to catch these heavyweight artists on stage together.
Caetano Veloso and Gilberto Gil
Who?
The founders of Tropicalismo: a radical reboot of Brazilian culture in the late ’60s. In terms of musical significance, they’re essentially the Brazilian Lennon and McCartney.
The history
On the 1968 album ‘Tropicália’, Veloso and Gil (along with artists such as Os Mutantes and Tom Zé) took eclectic influences – psychedelic rock, funk, samba-jazz, pop, avant-garde music and left-wing politics – and turned them into something entirely new. Their political stance so riled Brazil’s military dictatorship that the pair were both arrested, imprisoned and exiled for three years. Gil is still politically active, campaigning for the environment and drug legalisation. He even spent five years as Brazil’s Minister of Culture.
What to expect
A rare chance to see Gil and Veloso on stage together – but also a homecoming of sorts. Gil and Veloso spent their exile in London, where Gil jammed with Pink Floyd and helped organise the first Glastonbury festival, and Veloso wrote an album about feeling lost and homesick in the Smoke. Hopefully he’ll sing his lovely ode to the capital, ‘London, London’. James Manning
Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea
Who?
Oh, only two of the most important jazz pianists of modern times. Corea is a master of jazz fusion, and Hancock’s psychedelic funk forays were light-years ahead of his peers.
The history
The pair first toured together 37 years ago. During the height of their otherworldly, experimental jazz phases, HH and CC decided to tour as a stripped-back piano duo – because why the hell not? They also recorded two live albums: ‘An Evening with Herbie Hancock and Chick Corea’ and ‘Coreahancock: An Evening with Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock’. The unimaginative titles didn’t do justice to the incredible key-work within. Despite sharing a stage a couple more times, the two have never properly played together since.
What to expect
A series of creative piano odysseys from two old masters and old pals. There’ll be a few beard-stroking jazz moments, certainly, but also lots of immensely listenable, playful moments too, from two musicians who know how to enjoy themselves as well as wig out. If you have even the tiniest appreciation for jazz, you’re probably already drooling at the thought of this dynamic duo. Tristan Parker
Read more about Caetano Veloso/Gilberto Gil and Chick Corea/Herbie Hancock.