John Shand Posts

February 23, 2016 / Concert Reviews - Archive

Concert Hall, February 16 7/10 In the strange case of the incredible shrinking band Goran Bregovic’s 2008 Wedding and Funeral Orchestra comprised 37 people. Two years ago it was down to 19, and now to nine. In pessimistic mathematical terms the brilliant Serb may be leading no more than a…

February 20, 2016 / Concert Reviews - Archive

Presbyterian Hall, Springwood, February 13 8/10 No, surely not. Not vocally. Not that note. Not that high. Not now. She wouldn’t dare. Eeeeeee! She did, and she did it: became airborne; hit the stratospheric pitch amidships. Thrilling. You could feel the whole room lift with her, willing her on; exhilarated…

February 18, 2016 / Album Reviews - Archive

PASSION WORLD (Concord) 7/10 Fred and Ginger, tomato and basil, gin and tonic: some pairings are such a natural fit as to seem inseparable. Singer Kurt Elling and pianist Laurence Hobgood were such a match for 20 years, but now the party is apparently over (excepting Hobgood’s presence as an…