What concert did you attend in 2018?
Posted by: kuma on 01 January 2018
Starting a new thread for the new year!~
So did anyone go to the New Year's Concert in Vienna?
The Manor of Walworth is a rather spiffing pub/venue, converted from the old Labour Party HQ near the Elephant & Castle in Saaarf Lundun.
On 2nd November Ese & The Vooduu People played there (with Larry, Jake and other members of the Alabama 3 in attendance). Due to various technical horrors with the microphone PA system, the band were forced to play instrumentals for the first 45 minutes or so (hence the setlist below). Not a bad gig - the boys enjoyed it as they were able to show off their jazz chops. Superb version of "Grey", stretching out to almost 15 minutes.
First got to see Melody play at the palladium a few years back. Quickly realised she is a master of improvisation, with her awesome band behind covering familiar songs but different.
Then a couple of years back at Love Supreme jazz, funk and soul weekender showcasing the Currency Of Man album. This was upfront raw with her main man doing a memorable playing two saxaphones at the same time number.
No sax and trumpet man at the RFH, but with a dozen or so chamber orchestra and other familiar band members, this was from the start going to focus more on her arrangement material rather than others. Still familiar but so different to how she's recorded. Like her songs are a frame to do her thing within. Only her number - My one and Only Thrill - fitted within a recognisable motif. On a lesser mortal it could be maybe contrived. Her ability was just spellbinding.
TOBYJUG posted:
First got to see Melody play at the palladium a few years back. Quickly realised she is a master of improvisation, with her awesome band behind covering familiar songs but different.
Then a couple of years back at Love Supreme jazz, funk and soul weekender showcasing the Currency Of Man album. This was upfront raw with her main man doing a memorable playing two saxaphones at the same time number.
No sax and trumpet man at the RFH, but with a dozen or so chamber orchestra and other familiar band members, this was from the start going to focus more on her arrangement material rather than others. Still familiar but so different to how she's recorded. Like her songs are a frame to do her thing within. Only her number - My one and Only Thrill - fitted within a recognisable motif. On a lesser mortal it could be maybe contrived. Her ability was just spellbinding.
Good write-up, Tobyjug. I was at the RFH too and think you've captured the performance well. Before she came on I could see no trace of the brass section that I remembered so well from the previous performance. Then she and the others came on and I could see no electric bass guitar either! I wasn't expecting this and was a little unsettled. But that string ensemble was superb and I thought the whole performance wonderful. She is one very talented lady.
We saw Ray Cooper last night, here in Emsworth. Not the percussionist, or the drummer, but the ex member of Oysterband. He plays cello guitar and mandolin, and a mixture of traditional songs and his own material. It was a really good night. You’ll see the incredibly naff decs- we were joking with him about it being like the bit from Love Actually where Billy Mac sings Christmas is all around. All we needed was the girls in Santa outfits. Sadly we didn’t have any.
Was lucky with the David Heldbock concert. He didn’t play with the ensemble of his last album, but with his regular trio. They also played the music I like from the album into the mystic..., so very happy. Very small venue under the ground in Nuremberg....
The bass player by the way plays a piccolo bass, electric version...
I will be seeing Sol Gambetta this evening, If I am not too much affected by my cold
Sol Gabetta & Kammerorchester Basel
Montag, 03.12.2018 | 20:00 Uhr | Meistersingerhalle, Großer Saal
Sol Gabetta | Violoncello
Giovanni Antonini | Dirigent
Kammerorchester Basel
Sol Gabetta | © Julia Wesely
Robert Schumann, Ouvertüre zu Goethes „Hermann und Dorothea“ h-Moll op. 136
Robert Schumann, Cellokonzert a-Moll op. 129
***
Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphonie Nr. 1 C-Dur op. 21
Bert Schurink posted:I will be seeing Sol Gambetta this evening, If I am not too much affected by my cold
Sol Gabetta & Kammerorchester Basel
Montag, 03.12.2018 | 20:00 Uhr | Meistersingerhalle, Großer Saal
Giovanni Antonini | Dirigent
Kammerorchester Basel
Sol Gabetta | © Julia Wesely
Robert Schumann, Ouvertüre zu Goethes „Hermann und Dorothea“ h-Moll op. 136
Robert Schumann, Cellokonzert a-Moll op. 129
***
Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphonie Nr. 1 C-Dur op. 21
I only took the 1st part of the concert, as I am with a cold I want to be early in the bed. The playing of Sol was great. It was the first time I saw cello as instrument in solo live. The balance with the orchestra was good. The first piece which was with the orchestra only was not so special....
Another fine gig was had by me and Keith at the Leaf in Liverpool last night.
The excellent Molly Burch rode into town and performed a lovely intimate gig to a very appreciative audience.
Hailing from Austin Texas and backed by a 4 piece band of drummer, bass and two guitarist plus Molly on keyboards she treated us to tracks off her two album releases. She has a sweet voice and fans of Angel Olsen and Courtney Marie Andrews would have been in their element as she deliverd a range of songs that were very pleasing to the ear. She had a fine backing band and her chat with the audience was warm and friendly. A great set and one gig we both were glad we attended.
Before Molly’s set we were entertained by Andy Jenkins a singer/writer who I hadn’t heard before but he put together an fine set and his latest album is produced by Matthew E White which can’t be bad.
As her tour was coming to the end we took advantage of the offers I bought her two albums which she signed and Keith got the cd’s.
All in all another great night next gig Ian Prowsie at the O2 in a couple of weeks. ????
glasnaim posted:ted_p posted:I was in a Starbucks in Glasgow at 16.30 when I noticed that Def Leopard were coming to the Hydro in Glasgow tonight, doors open at 18.30 and that there was still some tickets available. Def Leopard Wil be performing some of their greatest hits and the album "Hysteria" in full. Very happy. ????
Edward
Enjoy Ted saw them two years ago at the Hydro with Whitesnake and the Black Riders, sure it will be good.
What a show, the supporting act was “Cheap Trick”.
Cheap Trick were good.
Def Leopard were outstanding, Joe Elliott and the gang were on top form, one of the best live concerts I have ever been too.
This morning I am absolutely shattered.
Edward 
kuma posted:Ardbeg10y posted:kuma posted:
Its Bruckner 6 and Mozarts piano concert 23 - played by Uchida.
Unfortunately, Bruckner 6 is not my favorite - that's Bruckner 5 for all its counterpoint. But the sound of all the copper will compensate for that I assume.
I am curious to know your thoughts on the performance. 6th isn't popular as 5th but I think Haitink made it worthwhile for me.
The concert started with Mozarts PC23. The PC23 is always good, my wife loved it. I liked it too, but for me the main course for the night was Bruckner. Before the concert we were chatting with 2 guys who apparently go to Uchida concerts all over this planet - not a thing I would do, but I must say that its was nice to see her for the first time live. Of course, there was a massive steinway and it sounded nice, but my personal preference are period instruments.
Then the Bruckner. It started 10 years ago when listening to Bruckner 4 that admitted for the first time in my life that there is music on this planet being equally good as a random piece of J. S. Bach. Over the years - and mostly influenced by having a Naim system at home - I have listened more and more to the symphonic repertoire. I started on Bruckner 4 again when I got Naim 3 years ago - made a sidestep to Tchaikovsky - and then Bruckner 7 + 9. Beginning of this year I was always listening to Bruckner 5. The reason I listen so often to Bruckner is that the music is not easy to understand. Everyone can like or dislike the sound of a Symphony orchestra playing Bruckner, or like / dislike the concert - but this does not mean that Bruckner is understood. It takes many times listening to the same piece of music until it starts to reveal its true beauty - there is simply no shortcut in this. Now, I could go on a long time on Bruckners compositions but thats not the point of this write up.
I discovered that I mostly like the Celibidache performances of Bruckner since it is on the edge of being too slow. And precisely on that spot - not a single bit faster or slower - is the best performance of Bruckner. The Haitink / Concertgebouworkest performance was a tad less slow ( I cannot write faster ) and that was for me that the real mystery was not revealed.
Also, I think that the Timpanies were a bit underpowered versus the bass section of the Orchestra. The copper was spot on all the time. The violins very good.
It was absolutely fantastic and more that I could have dreamed of.
Bruckner 6 starts to come for me. Have seen Haitink & Uchida.
By the way, that Concertgebouw is having such a lovely sweet timbre, it is like an older Nait.
Ps, I got the impression that Haitink is not a big lover of the general pause in Bruckner. They were not emphasised but a bit muffled away. Maybe it was accoustics?
19th November, and to The Barbican for the first of five gigs (in six days!) as the london Jazz Festival gets into full swing.
First night, it's the great Archie Shepp performing his famous Art Songs & Spirituals, plus a set from up and coming ensemble Red Circle.
In concert, Shepp remains a huge presence, as a band leader, composer, saxist and singer. A wonderful night, as these reviews from Jazzwise and the Groaniad can attest.
http://www.jazzwisemagazine.co...ues-away-at-barbican
https://www.theguardian.com/mu...amina-claudine-myers
From the LJF blurb:
One of the most articulate and original voices to emerge from the maelstrom of jazz as it connected with the civil rights movement of the 60s, Archie Shepp enters his eighties with sustained energy and commitment. His saxophone sound is as soulful and heartfelt as ever, and his command of a deep tradition of black culture and music is unparalled.
Art Songs and Spirituals explores this legacy in dynamic style, combining with two extraordinary talents in keyboardist / singer Amina Claudine Myers, and the charismatic Carleen Anderson, leading a specially assembled vocal group, UK Vocal Assembly, featuring Cleveland Watkiss, Beverley Skeete, Marion Rampal, Gina Foster, Sylvia Mason-James, Janet Ramus, Gail Evans and Daniel Thomas - augmented by a powerful band that features the great drummer Hamid Drake.
Archie Shepp's last Festival appearance, revisiting his classic album Attica Blues, raised the roof of a packed Barbican in 2013. Art Songs and Spirituals reveals yet another dimension of a key figure in the evolution of jazz in the modern world.
Opening, Simon Purcell’s Red Circle unites with special guest vocalist Cleveland Watkiss, rekindling a jazz partnership reaching back to the London jazz scene of the 80s, with Chris Batchelor, Julian Seigel, Steve Watts and Gene Calderazzo.
Rick Wakeman, Piano Odyssey tour, last night at St. George's, Brandon Hill. Not only is Rick an exceptional musician, he can also tell a good story and some dreadful jokes. This is the fourth time I've seen him and in the most intimate setting. He always comes across as a jolly decent bloke too. Thoroughly enjoyable.