John Shand Posts

June 27, 2017 / Album Reviews - Archive

THE BROLGA (Rouseabout Records) Marcus Holden’s musical vision is so complete that it has become a prism through which almost any music that passes is refracted into his own likeness. His version of O mio babbino caro from Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, for instance, melts all the high drama of a…

June 25, 2017 / Concert Reviews - Archive

Sydney Conservatorium, Jun 4 8.5/10 Pianist Tigran Hamasyan has such a light touch at it is as if a spirit is playing rather than a corporeal presence; one wary of imposing itself upon silence. Indeed much of this solo concert was so airy that were it a sculpture it wouldn’t…

June 24, 2017 / Concert Reviews - Archive

York Theatre, June 3 Reviewed by John Shand 9.5/10 If you could distil innocence and then teach it to play guitar it would sound like Bill Frisell. Frisell is still the kid whose eyes light up with that “Oh, wow!” sense of wonder at the sounds an electric guitar can…