Category Archives: concerts

Like Chris Wood (the musical one) these two Mar­tins never quite know when enough is enough in the intro­duc­tion line. Even­tu­ally, enough is enough, espe­cially when they are both such stun­ningly good gui­tar­ists.  Excel­lent vari­ety of num­bers, from folky to … Con­tinue read­ing →

Young jazz pian­ist doing a solo set at the NCEM.  Funny, although he is bril­liant I felt the need for a rhythm sec­tion on some num­bers, to vary the sound a bit and give it some shape.  Keith Jar­rett I … Con­tinue read­ing →

The man is of course a legend — but his Leeds gig was rather a dis­ap­point­ment for those of us who were look­ing for the legendary num­bers.  Mostly he played stuff from his new CD which is a trib­ute to … Con­tinue read­ing →

You’d think a band that come on look­ing like a set of undertaker’s coffin bear­ers, with a pian­ist that crouches over the piano like someone was going to steal it and a bass player who looks like his day job … Con­tinue read­ing →

Sorry about that, Jackie.  But you don’t actu­ally need my approval. The con­cert was com­pet­ent, very nice, had some inter­est­ing songs and excel­lent musi­cians but some­how there was a spark miss­ing.  Nearly but not quite. Some little extra pizzazz needed … Con­tinue read­ing →

Ser­i­ously good jazz from Tim Gar­land (vari­ous sax­o­phones inc bass) Gwilym Sim­cock (piano) and Asaf Sir­kis (per­cus­sion).  Most from their new­ish double album “Libra”.  Sir­kis brings a middle east­ern style drum-kit and a slightly world-music tinge; Sim­cock is a demon … Con­tinue read­ing →

A quick plug, first, for Kendell’s Bis­tro in Leeds. oppos­ite The Venue and very close to the West York­shire Play­house — french-style food — lots of choice — lots of fish — and opens at 5.30 so you can have … Con­tinue read­ing →

Maybe it’s too late to start going to see Bob Dylan.  I can at least say that I saw him live, that it was an enjoy­able even­ing, and that he and his band make a good rock­ing sound.  But his … Con­tinue read­ing →