John Shand Posts

February 10, 2018 / Concert Reviews - Archive

Concert Hall, January 22 8.5/10 What to give the girl who has everything? How about a symphony orchestra? Or at least most of one, to flesh out her trio, somewhat; to make the band almost as big as her hair – if still nowhere near as big as her persona.…

February 7, 2018 / Features - Archive

When Cecile McLorin Salvant’s new album, Dreams and Daggers, was recently nominated for a Grammy Award she decided to re-listen to a couple of tracks to see what the fuss was about. She couldn’t even last two songs. She just can’t stand her own jazz singing, the aspect of her…

February 5, 2018 / Theatre Reviews - Archive

York Theatre, January 21 7.5/10 Originally from Nigeria, playwright Inua Ellams has said that he was born a man, and it was only when he moved to the UK that he became a “black” man. Such profound issues of personal identity, migration, race and racism intermingle with geopolitics, jokes, tall…