John Shand Posts

June 4, 2014 / Features - Archive

As bed fellows go, traditional Greek music and jazz might have seemed as likely as Mahler and Abba. But then Charles Lloyd, one of jazz’s most revered saxophonists, heard one of Greece’s most cherished contraltos, Maria Farantouri, and she affected him the same way that Billie Holiday had done when…

May 18, 2014 / Album Reviews - Archive

Life to Everything (Edition/Planet) The title comes from a wonderful Plato quote: “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” Phronesis has certainly been stimulating minds and imaginations since the Anglo-Danish band burst into life in 2005, and this…

May 13, 2014 / Concert Reviews - Archive

State Theatre, May 5 It can go either way with these actors becoming musicians and vice versa: revelation or fiasco. Actor/comedian Hugh Laurie is not exactly a Johnny-come-lately to music. A pianist for 48 years, he also sings, plays guitar and has steeped himself in the blues. But the move…