Liane Carroll (piano & vocals) & Ian Shaw (piano & vocals)
(Review by Russell/Photo courtesy Ken Drew)
Jazz festivals like to book a number of musicians who are ‘box office’ performers. The Gateshead International Jazz Festival presented two for the price of one in Sage Two’s opening night ‘late night’ show. Liane Carroll and Ian Shaw give a performance every time they take to the stage. This 2016 GIJF concert gave top billing to Carroll with her friend of many years Ian Shaw her ‘special guest’ (pictured here on the Concourse).
Carroll takes after Shaw with her on-stage repartee. Living in Hastings, Ms Carroll has performed all over the world, seen and done it all, yet, here at Sage Gateshead presented a persona of the fragile, vulnerable performer. Does Carroll know how good she is?
Possessing a fabulous, powerful voice, a cast iron technique as a pianist and an engaging personality, Carroll drew huge applause time and again. Impassioned singing, saloon bar piano playing (of a most superior kind), the two ingredients combined to make for a great gig. Head thrown back, singing to the stars, Carroll gave her all. Friend Ian Shaw walked onto stage to join her, initially standing by the piano, sharing the lyric. A chemistry, clear to all, exists between the two; sharing a lyric, sharing a joke, worldly-wise, hilarious. The roles reversed, Shaw sat at the piano, Carroll front of stage, pathos and comedic timing a winning combination, the duo could have played all night. All of Me to Leonard Cohen to Joni’s Big Yellow Taxi, this was paradise, definitely no soul-destroying parking lot.
Ian Shaw, stand-up, singer, pianist, activist. Shaw took time out to talk about his regular visits to the euphemistically known ‘Calais jungle’. He is a hands-on volunteer helper at a twenty first century ‘detention centre’ (your reviewer’s description of the EU’s shameful shanty town). Shaw, a world class vocalist (and pianist) mixes music and politics. Good on you, Ian. To quote Pastor Niemoeller: Then they came for me – and there was no one left to speak out for me. Ian Shaw returns to Sage Gateshead on Wednesday 15 June- be there.
Russell.
1 comment :
I'm sure Ian Shaw (no pun intended!) was not on the original billing for this gig, but was added later as the "Special Guest".
Liane Carroll does indeed have a fantastic voice, large octave range and huge dynamic range - a real treat. I would not describe her as fragile, but she certainly is perhaps understated - there is nothing of the diva about her manner and she is self deprecating (in a humourous way). Tickets for Ian Shaw already booked!
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