John Shand Posts

December 29, 2018 / Album Reviews - Archive

THROUGH HER EYES (www.danbarentt.com.au) 7.5/10 Given that it is memorial to his mother, a remarkable optimism pervades this opus from singer/trombonist Dan Barnett. Or perhaps it is stoicism alchemised into optimism in the very act of making the music. It was recorded live in a private home, which can sometimes…

December 27, 2018 / Theatre Reviews - Archive

NED

New Theatre, December 19 4.5/10 Like all art, a piece of theatre is never more perfect than when just an idea: before a word is written. Once the process of making the concept tangible begins, perfection usually has its fall. The idea of writing a new musical about Ned Kelly…

December 23, 2018 / Concert Reviews - Archive

Foundry 616, December 15 9/10 What a bright new force is pianist Zela Margossian. Her debut album, Transition, announced her range and fascination as a composer, splashing her Armenian heritage across the broad canvas of jazz. But whereas the album (as good as it is) felt slightly stifled by a…