James Birkett (guitar), Giles
Strong (guitar), Emma Fisk (violin) & Mick Shoulder (double bass)
The Sage Gateshead’s intimate
four hundred capacity Hall Two hosted the opening concert of this year’s
International Guitar Festival. Hot Club specialists Djangologie could not have wished
for a better platform on which to launch their new CD. Djangologists, students
of the guitar and other discerning concert goers heard classic material and a few numbers in the idiom
composed by bassist Mick Shoulder.
Coquette,
Belleville and Nuages won deserved applause. The latter tune, heard so many
times, yet on this take, Emma Fisk, virtuoso that she is, gave a stunning
performance eliciting a rapturous reception. Djangologist and bass player Mick
Shoulder remarked that it brought a tear to the eye.
(Review by Russell).
Quite.
Shoulder’s writing
skills are such that his own material - Django’s
Stomp (Django being a one time canine companion of Shoulder) and The Sinister Drag (a second set
highlight) - stands fair comparison with the more familiar.
The first set at an
end, the applause had to be heard to be believed. Master guitarist James
Birkett brought the house down on Oh,
Lady be Good and The Sheik of Araby
(always good fun) featured the quartet in whirling dervish mode (Birkett and
Fisk could not play any faster if their lives depended upon it). Amazing!
Rhythm guitarist Giles Strong is, I guess, a musician’s musician. Unsung but indispensable and pretty darn good at what he does (first name on the team sheet,
if you will). Many tunes, countless highlights and lots of CDs - The New Leaf - sold at the end of the
night. Perfect.
Russell
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