John Shand Posts

March 31, 2013 / Album Reviews - Archive

Concert In Athens (ECM) One of my speakers self-destructed recently, causing much gnashing of teeth. But since the replacement pair have been installed I swear no more beautiful sound has passed their membranes than that of Kim Kashkashian’s viola on this album. It has a velvety luxuriance such as the…

March 28, 2013 / Concert Reviews - Archive

Camelot Lounge, March 24  The very absence of one of the Bridge Project’s members just further emphasised the need for such a venture. Umit Ceyhan is a Turkish refugee resident in France with his wife and daughter. It appears he was denied an Australian visa for fear he would become…

March 12, 2013 / Features - Archive

A party in the Balkans is unimaginable without two things: brass instruments and alcohol. Goran Bregovic may appear to have much the same needs. Despite the astonishing breadth of music that he composes (for performance and film) a brass band is never far away, and nor, if his unforgettable 2008…