MUSIC PREVIEW
me:- Jazz folk
and vocals.
ideally suited to the light.
MARC MARNiE
Sophie Bancroft
Sophie Bancroft went south in l99() to take up ajazz education post in Reading. and only returned to live in Edinburgh in March. She has not let the grass grow under her feet. and her band has already appeared to some acclaim in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Those who know her in a straight jazz tnode might raise an eyebrow at a folk-influenced line-up which features Sophie with guitarist Sandy Wright. percussionist Jim Sutherland. and Gina Rae on whistle
however.
‘Jim has been a big influence on me since we got the band together. and it is really nice to be able to open up the music. and maybe appeal to some people who wouldn‘t be so keen on a straight jazz band. I have been writing a lot over the past couple of years. and I originally wanted to try the band with two guitars. but Sandy Wright is already involved with folk musicians. and it just grew from that. definitely jazz-oriented. but the way we do some of the songs has changed.’
The spaciousness offered by this particular combination of instruments is
My music is
floadng
quality of her singing. and also allows her vocal flexibility full rein. They are still in the process of working out ‘how best to lill in the spaces'. but there is no doubt that this is a group with real potential. Jim Sutherland has also organised a much bigger group along similar lines. and they can be heard in a residency at the Theatre Royal pub (by The Playhouse) on Wednesdays. Sophie leads her group in three gigs at the Leith Jazz Festival this weekend. and will also feature during the Glasgow Jazz Festival. when trumpeter Colin Steele will be added to the line- up. Off—stage. though. she is putting her educational skills to use in developing a project with fellow singers Fionna Duncan and Sylvia Rae to set up a
E series of what they see as much-needed . workshops for jazz. singers later in the
year. (Kenny Mathieson)
' 'l'he Sophie Bancroft (iroup play at the : [.eith Jazz Festival/rum I’ri [8—Star 20.
I: See listin gs for details. t______
26 The—list. 13‘ 51....-. July 1'99}
mm Auld Alliance
Maybe it’s something to do with the Auld Alliance, but it’s certainly an interesting observation that more Scottish musicians seem to have involved themselves with the French Féte de la Musique rather than Britain’s llational Music Day. Both events happen this month and both have something in common in that they attempt to involve musicians of all backgrounds in a time-focused musical extravaganza.
The British day, now in its second year, actually covers a weekend this time - Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 - and, with no less than £100,000 of government funding to cover its administration, aims to get the whole country making music over the two days. South of the border, this very much london-dominated idea may be having more effect but in Scotland it would appear to be largely ignored by music organisations.
The French, however, through their lively Institut Francais d’Ecosse in Edinburgh, have a fttll programme of musical events on Saturday 19 as an extension of what is happening in France. Arts thicer Thierry Peltier explains, ‘Féte de la Musique has been a kind of tradition in France since 1982 after being set up by Jacques Lang, the former Minister of Culture.’
Its purpose, to welcome the summer with music, may of course have a bit more relevance within France’s more
predictable climate, but it is from this that the British, thanks to the efforts of ex-Arts Minister Tim Benton along with Mick Jagger, have taken the idea of National Music Day.
On 26 June, there’s a scratch Brahms ‘Bequiem’ at the Queen’s Hall and on the preceding Saturday there’s a whole host of musical events from French song and folk music to bagpipes, fiddle, smooth rap and jan.
As Peltier says, ‘We hope to have a very friendly, lively and informal evening to which everyone is welcome.’ With the added attraction of the Institute’s highly acclaimed La Cuisine d’0dile, it should be a good night and at £2 (conc £1.50) a bit cheaper than a trip to France. (Carol Main)
See Classical listings for details or phone Institut Francais d’Ecosse on 031 225 5366 for full programme.
Market research
‘A smile, a wink and a giggle,’ goes the philosophy. ‘Mmm, tasty, lovely, summery, dawn chorus, heavenly chorus,’ goes the music. Up until now, the nefarious notoriety of Dodgy has sidelined the bizness of their music. Forever seemineg on the scam (‘We don’t scam!’ singer lligel Clark protests too loud . . .), they played llyde Park Corner during the last General Election and got arrested (and filmed, for their troubles); released three singles that were covertly funded by a major yet came blazing with indie veritas; organised a national tour whereby interested local punters were asked to set up ad hoc gigs, and generally weren’t very good. Still, they were interesting. llow, having developed their sound and stance, Dodgy are clamped to A&M’s corporate bosom and ‘The Dodgy Album’ is out and about. It’s magic. It’s plaintive and plangent, ten tracks of prime pop-beat pcetry radiating all manner of good things. The scamps,
the chancers, have done it again, making a record that is nothing to do with their erstwhile hype and everything to do with tall-walking, cookie-warming popadelia. The ultimate scam, no? The kind of stuff that is multi-lingual and ultra-fluent, able to win over the most diverse of audiences - notably 1500 scooter boys at a Mod rally in Southport later this month.
‘We like to play to diverse audiences,’ says lligel, lead voice in this barbershop trio tor the 903. ‘We supported Dzric Tentacles just to see what they were like, because they run their music, their band, totally different to everyone else. It was all crusties and we went down really well. Then we did the World Party tour recently and their fans were all 30 years old and they liked us. So doing a Mod rally or The Bulldog Bash, there’s no difference, really.’ (Craig McLean) ggdgy play King Tut’s, Glasgow on Sun
BEET
{sunneunrn
Three years after they got together in lnvemess. and
I following ‘Audrey Hepburn'. the single that made their name in the Highlands. Tinkerbell's Dope Ring have at last got around to releasing their debut album. Beetsniukespitpink. They are now resident in Edinburgh and breaking in their seventh bassist. ‘Very Tap-ish.‘ comments singer/guitarist Tom Fraser. adding. ‘Mike. the drummer. has a veto on songs he doesn‘t like. Our bassists are always too busy learning the set to have any time to complain.‘
But they‘re happy with the album. despite the fact that budget restraints allowed them only two takes of every song. ‘I like it a lot. I‘m worried that it might be a bit too varied. though. People won't know if it's pop-grunge or baggy or reggae.’
There are touches of all those things — Fraser spent eight years as a funk bassist. and reckons he ‘missed out on the 80s' as a result — but mainly Beets is straightahead high- octane rock that can't stay po-faced for long. It’s tougher music than the previous EP. which some Scottish DJs played rather more readily than the current. spikier incarnation of TDR.
The day we speak. the Ring (the l)opes'.’) are preparing themselves for their first acoustic session. to be broadcast during [furs/tot on Radio 5 on Tue 22. Tom has his reservations about the session though. He prefers a few thousand watts to eover up his mistakes. and he isn't sure how his voice will react. ‘()n stage. with a big microphone. I can sing loud and my voice flips into strangulated mode. I don't know if l can do that sitting down.‘ (Alastair Mabbott)
'linkerbel I '5‘ Dope R int:
play the Music Box.
Edinburgh on Sun 20 and support Sidi Bou Said at The Subway, Edinburgh on Fri 25 and Nice 'n' Sleazy, Glasgow on Sat 26.