John Shand Posts

November 4, 2014 / Concert Reviews - Archive

Foundry 616, October 29 His almost serene, middle-distance stare was a mask. Boiling from his limbs was an intensity behind the drums that few have matched. Even when the stare was punctuated by eye contact with a colleague, or a grin of mischievous delight, Jeff “Tain” Watts’ drumming remained ferocious.…

November 2, 2014 / Concert Reviews - Archive

  Concert Hall, October 27 Here was a concert to blaze in the memory. Rather than settling for being one of the great fiddlers of Irish music, Martin Hayes had to ask “What if…?”, and assemble a band to shroud that music in a fine mizzle of mystery once more.…

November 1, 2014 / Features - Archive

Ralph Towner has just been on holiday. To the guitarist this is rather more noteworthy than helping redefine improvised music over the last 45 years by blending jazz, classical and South American elements. “I’m just learning from my wife how to take a vacation without going mad,” the American says…