John Shand Posts

August 12, 2013 / Theatre Reviews - Archive

Sydney Theatre, August 10   Despite its inevitability there is still a shock in seeing cracks in the art one revered in one’s youth. As a teen Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead was probably my favourite play; certainly my favourite comedy. Tom Stoppard had sprinkled Spike Milligan madness across Waiting…

August 5, 2013 / Album Reviews - Archive

  Down Deep (Winter & Winter/Birdland) This extraordinary album is the most thorough integration of jazz, African and classical elements I have heard, with the end result as visceral as flamenco singing or Hound Dog Taylor’s guitar. The trio consists of Ernst Reijseger (cello, voice), Harmen Fraanje (piano) and Mola…

July 18, 2013 / Concert Reviews - Archive

Concert Hall, July 14 She steamed on stage with the sort of feistiness that league players save for Origin games, and dared us to argue that Peace And Understanding Is Hard To Find. Then she throttled I Wanna Be Around with something of the conviction of the old Renee Geyer,…