FESTIVAL
OROIIESTRA OE OAMRRA 'I'EATRE LLIIIRE
One native Spanish composer and one Spanish-influenced who ended up a British citizen feature in two concerts by the Orquestra de Cambra Teatre Lliure from Barcelona. Of the two, the Queen's Hall performance holds more interest with its all-Roberto Gerhard (he’s the Englishman) programme. In a historic revival, it includes the first performance for more than 40 years of the suite from his ballet Pandora, a work assumed to be all but lost. Full blooded Spanish musical fireworks come in the all-Falla concert at the Usher Hall, which includes the gypsy- inspired El Amor Brujo. I omuestrn de Mrs i’eatre lllure (International Festival) Usher Hall, 225 5756, 20 Aug, 8pm; Queen's Hall, 23 Aug, llam, £4—£l2.
HEE- mnen sens:
One short of a football team, the Inner Sense Percussion Orchestra would be just the job to play at the official opening ceremony of the World Cup, with their organised cacophony of drums, rattles, shakers and whistles and music rooted in Brazilian and other South American rhythms, Latin jazz, funk and samba reggae. Back again after successful appearances last year, this essentially dance-music band now sports a horn section of three saxes, and plays a season at the Acoustic Music Centre. The unofficial ‘Folk Festival Club’ of the Edinburgh Festival. the Acoustic Music Centre is
ii any British iazz musician has made a maior contribution to the development oi contemporary European jazz, then surely it is saxophonist John Surman. The aiiable West Countryman appeared on the early 60s [an scene as a member oi Mike Westbrook’s band (he was still at school at the
time . lie always claims, without any A ousness, to have started
on baritone saxophone because his local shop had one at the same price as an alto, and he reckoned he was getting more ior his money with the big, shiny baritone. it proved a good, it
traceoiiacetl
JOHN SORMAN
demanding, choice.
‘It is hard work to play, yes, and it John Stu-an can still be tiring it you have to Sunnan has established a long-term maintain a high energy level ior very relationship with Manired Eicher’s long. Over the years, though, I’ve 50M label, and his releases range learned how to use the PA properly. from a series oi solo albums, through and how to iocus the energy and the docs and quartets (with, mnong eiiort that I put into the instrunent. others, Paul Bley, Jack DeJohnette The real problem ior me is that I’ve and singer Karin Krog) to the Brass had some problems with slipped discs Proiect with John Warren, the latest overtheyears,andlhavetobe irults oi whichappearedonthe careiul oi my back with the baritone - eponymous “Brass Proiect’ disc earlier there have been times I couldn't even this year, along with the quartet pick up the damn thing, iar less play release ‘Adventure Playground’. it: For his Edinburgh visit, however,
lie earned a deserved reputation as a Surman will be with the home-based iiery periormer on that instrument in version oi his quartet, with his recent the 60s and 70s, notably in the tree duo partner John Taylor on piano (their improvisation groups The ‘hio and SOS. ‘Ambleside liays’ disc on Ah the is like Jan Sarbarek, however, he chose ' highly recommended, while their a sparser, evocative, highly melodic Glasgow Jan Festival duo concert was musical direction in the 80s, one oi the best things I have heard), particularly in his solo recordings, Chris laurence on bass, and drummer when he augmented his usual horns - John Marshall. (Kenny Mathieson) soprano and baritone saxophone and John Sunnan Quartet (Till liound bass clarinet - with electronic Midnight) Queen's llall (Venue 72) 668 keyboard textures and rhythms. 2019, 22 Aug, 7.30pm, £9.50, £8 (£5). in Chambers Street, and is Orchestra (Fringe) 8°"gwme' "‘ Swum' open Ham—lam, seven Acoustic Music Centre whose songs are sung by days. Admission free (venue 25) 220 2462, artists from Deacon Blue
before 8pm. £l after (Sun—Thurs); £2 (Fri/Sat). Bars, with food and informal live music are always open, and the Box Office, noon-midnight, sells tickets for the vast number of events under the AMC roof. (Norman Chalmers)
I Inner Sense Percussion
23—26, 29—31 Aug. 10.30pm, £5.50 (£3.50).
MARRA ANO NAROINI
lndisputably the finest
to Leo Sayer, Michael Marra is a poet in blue suede shoes. Known to many through his spellbinding solo performances at the piano, Marra's roots are in legendary Dundee rock bands like Skeets Boliver. His musical vision is, however, extremely wide.
Michael idem
melding 50s pop, church music, black soul, Dr John, Scots trad and a Randy Newmanesque eye for beauty in the commonplace. He releases Candy Philosophy, his latest album. with a Queen‘s Hall concert which will be a chance to hear him both solo and fronting his new rock band, with The Penny Dainties on vocal harmonies.
Also on the Eclectic Records label with Marra, and in the support slot for the evening will be another great Scottish songwriter ironist, Peter Nardini. Celebrated for his acute ear for the cadences of the West of Scotland, and a hilarious, deadpan bleak humour, it might be true that his latest fine album sees him mellowing, but just a tad. (Norman Chalmers)
I Michael Maire/Peter Nardinl (Fringe) Queen‘s Hall (Venue 72) 668 20l9. 26 Aug, 7.30pm, £7.50 (£6).
ro rem ,‘reet Station
11.30pm, £5 (£3).
KENNY YOUNG AND THE EOOPLANTS
As the unmistakable strains of ‘Every Fish Aspires To Be A Stand- Up Comedian’ fill the air, as the bass-player picks up a pair of drumsticks and batters them off everything from the mike- stand to the lampshade. you know it’s Eggplant time again. Chugging amiany away on guitar, bongos and bass, this oddball Brooklyn tn'o alternate dreamin decelerated left-field rock numbers (a certain Lou Reed is strongly represented) with truly surreal comic creations - piscine would-be comics rub shoulders with the ‘Savage Eggplant‘ (‘l‘m purple and l’m proud'); meanwhile ‘Rambo Goes Shopping' ('forget the sales. dear, let’s go home‘), but only after ‘Randolph Got A Haircut’, a remarkable trim which proceeds to solve every problem in Randolph’s home town, from double parking to structural unemployment. Unforgettable. (Sue Wilson)
I Attack oi the Aubergines (Fringe) Kenny Young And The Eggplants, Acoustic Music Centre (Venue 25) 220 2462, 23—29 Aug.
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CO The List 20—26 August 1993