Savion Glover, Live for London, Sadler's Wells

Glover, his band, The Otherz, and his fellow hoofers, Chapter IV, receive a standing ovation at Sadlers Wells on opening night. However, this is no modern tap spectacular as witnessed at Sampled back in February with Jason Samuels Smith's ACGI (Anyone Can Get It). Glover’s publicity claims he’s probably the greatest living tap dancer and I wouldn’t dispute that – he’s amazing, but this show is all about music and, more accurately, rhythm.

 

The first half is entirely given over to Glover playing with his tremendous jazz band: piano, double bass, drums, flute/sax/horn and, of course, taps. To emphasise the point, Glover faces his band for most of the opening, leading and playing with them as a musician rather than performing to the audience. He dialogues percussively with the band, democratically sharing the solos around, totally focused on creating the music and the energy being channeled through his entire body down to his relentlessly expressive feet. When he finally does turn around and acknowledge his public it’s a warm and fuzzy moment as he cracks an enormous, soulful smile to rapturous appreciation.

 

Chapter IV take to the stage after the interval. The three of them have the opportunity to shine as master tappers in their own right and there’s more of a showcase feel. They take it in turns to tap solo and interact with Glover before joining Glover’s band and provide a rich choreographed percussive chorus. Glover’s dancing is intermittently spectacular, leaving you wondering how he manages deliver such complex, sensitive and rapid tap whilst maintaining such a laid back manner and enjoying every minute. He’s a pleasure to watch.

 

Savion Glover is a geniusly gifted tap dancer, a highly original choreographer, a charming and genial entertainer and has excellent green tap shoes but this show is a concert. It’s about reappropriating the tap dancer as a percussive instrument in a jazz band. Hence, the wonderful cry, when introducing all the musicians, “and on taps…”

**** ‘For Savion Glover, tap dancing is all about the music, not about the bright lights.’

**** ‘The music stylishly references most of postwar jazz, from bebop to fusion with special emphasis on John Coltrane, while the dancing, which moves beyond rhythm to create a melody all its own, pays tribute to a long line of hoofers.’

‘One second, he's somehow tapping solely on the tips of his snazzy green boots, the next he's swooping gracefully into a move like a bird of prey or sliding across the stage as if it's suddenly been greased.’

‘Glover's style is grounded, hunkered down, angular and almost awkward, with no leaps and not many spins. He doesn't do tricks, but his detail is extraordinary - tiny steps, taps and clicks, then slides and scrapes.’