Daniel John Martin (violin, vocals); Mick
Shoulder (guitar); Giles Strong (guitar); Paul Susans (bass)
How many sounds can you get from a violin?
I think we heard them all last night from the talented Mr Martin and a few more. Besides the melodious
alto and soprano sounds that we expect, we had sweet whimpers, vocal sounds,
clicks from the dusty end (if a violin has a dusty end), pizzicato with
whistling from the player, and breathy notes, with a classical-like cadenza to
round off the third tune of the night, just for good measure.
Other unusual features of this very
enjoyable evening included dancers from the audience, first a seductive couple
dance with pretty arm movements from the lady, then a very different dance from
2 ladies who rarely touched but matched each other’s movements and fitted the
band rhythmically. The large audience loved it all.
Readers will know the formula for Hot Club
Swing as performed in pre-war French dance halls: violin lead with solos from
guitars and violin, with one of the guitars always rhythmically strumming the
chords in order. And a welcome bass solo on Charlie Parker's Yardbird Suite added
to the talents shown by all the players.
I was multi-tasking - reviewing at the same
time as taking the door money ('that's 2 pounds change sir') so I have an
excuse for not naming all the tunes, but included were Anniversary Song ('Oh
how we danced on the night etc'); Crazy Rhythm (a favourite song of mine
about the nature of jazz and probably love); Yardbird Suite and another
Parker number then, I'll See You In My Dreams; I Wish You Love; Nuages; A
bolero; a French tune, Douce Ambience
(duet between violin and guitar); There'll Never be Another You; and 2
other tunes, one happy and one slower which showed just what a violin can do in
the right hands.
Oh, I haven't mentioned the singing from
our violinist, a pleasant tenor on There'll Never Be Another You and I
Wish You Love. An added touch which the audience loved.
My apologies for concentrating on our guest
but praise must also be given to Mick Shoulder and his cohorts for making it
happen and, of course, their musical contribution which was everything our star could have wished for.
Ann
Alex.
PS: From the poster you will note there is still an opportunity to catch him - tomorrow night (Saturday) - at Core Music in Hexham
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