Archive for February 21, 2010
RAW: Akoustic Odyssey – Promethean
Feb 21st
For their shows at the picturesque Promethean, Akoustic Odyssey delivered up exactly as their web-site describe it – a banquet of rock baroque, Latin jazz, classical heavy metal, Mediterranean, and Middle-Eastern styles with just a touch of funk.
These shows included extracts off their forthcoming album Lotus that includes not only new material but reworked old standards such as Odyssey. The prolific nature of the group may be evidenced by the fact their last album was released less than 18 months ago.
AO has enjoyed considerable local support with a gig at 2006 WOMAD and nominations for Fringe Act of the year. The music quickly draws you in and one rapidly appreciates the quality musicianship of all the players with perhaps Josh Tsounis on guitars (and one of the primary composers) the standout. Many of the songs gather momentum like a departing passenger train before cruising at high velocity in their midst. Emma Luker (violin) and Talitha Best (oboe) make fine front people while Anne Harrington’s percussion is under emphasised or at the risk of being under appreciated.
Akoustic Odyssey is fine Sunday afternoon fare for all to enjoy.
Kryztoff Rating – 4K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
RAW: Every Day Faces – Every Day Places – Naomi Clarke – Adelaide Railway Station
Feb 21st
Naomi Clarke’s elongated canvasses that stretch across the great arrivals hall at the railway station are works of great interest. Captured on them are photographed faces, sometimes portraits, of people of all walks and ages, some we know, most of whom are otherwise just faces in the crowd. Their looks are sometimes intriguing, other times hugely engaging such as the young boy in a joyous moment.
Using the railway station hall as the place to display them is most apt, for there below these canvasses is the same eclectic mix of individuals milling around and going about their days, also enjoying moments of delight and introspection.
Works on this scale can run the risk of overdoing it or getting lost above the masses. Clarke has done well to get the balance right and achieve her goal as set out in the exhibition’s title. The pity is that they could not be hung closer to the southern stairs where the impact of them vis a vis the people below would have been greater. It seems some promotion of the railways people took precedence (– can you believe it).
Kryztoff Rating – 4K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
RAW: Paul Dougherty and his Band – La Boheme
Feb 21st
Recently returned from a year studying in Boston, Paul Dougherty showed a small but appreciative audience the benefit of his time away with an engrossing display at the quaint La Boheme last Thursday night. Dougherty with two strings to his bow as both a bass player and vocalist played an array of music – much his own but supported by the likes Bill Withers – complemented by equally varied lyrical topics including the opening five song homage to Amelia Earhart based in turn on a song by Joni Mitchell.
Paul was well supported by Daniel Brunner on key boards (and also a composer for the evening) and Chris Neale on drums while out of the direct light but a wonderful accompaniment to Dougherty’s voice and compositions was young Dan Clohesy on sax.
Dougherty showed great confidence and maturity in not only his own abilities but also the program he chose. While jazz of this type can suffer for composers who can’t sing, Dougherty’s smooth hedgehog brownie type voice added extra dimension and enjoyment. His Ain’t No Sunshine cover perhaps best highlighted his talents vocally as well his capacity to interpret as well as innovate.
Find the time to track him down when next he plays.
Kryztoff Rating – 4K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
RAW: Sam Eads Big Band – Queens Arms
Feb 21st
It was a hugely ambitious project to bring together 18 young musicians for a big band recital based on in-house composers and then Maynard Ferguson classics but Sam Eads and his band pulled it off on debut at the Queens Arms on Friday night and pulled it off easily.
The first set was mostly compositions of prodigious talent Daniel Clohesy. These gave sax player, Jason McMahon and trombonists Nick Pietsch and Jimmy Bowman (amongst others) a chance to strut their stuff supported by the work horses, Joel Prime (percussion), Polly Thomas (drums) and Marty Houlebek (bass). The second set of Maynard Ferguson standards featured a bearding Eric Santucci taking control on trumpet in a display of bluster and confidence that returned the trust placed in him by Eads to hold this portion of the show together.
Over the whole hour, the sax quintet were the stars with McMahon ably supported by Andrew Crago, Alex Mussolino as well as Clohesy.
This was a great sound and great fun as well as high inspiration to see so many young players pulling together in a venture like this. With a little more polish – not too many of the penguin suits fitted or their shoes polished – Adelaide will be blessed if they can play for us regularly.
Kryztoff Rating – 4K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe
RAW: Sound & Fury’s Private Dick
Feb 21st
Talented theatrical trio Richard, Shelby and Jonathan are Sound & Fury, dedicated to parody.
Playing with ‘film noir’ conventions, it’s clear these guys know the meaning of fun. Occasionally singing, dancing, improvising, breaking down the “fourth wall” and/or breaking character, these three enthrall their audience.
Private Dick, which in essence is the sixty solid minutes of dirty double entendres, also features cross-dressing dames and nonsensical names.
If you find your mind is already in the gutter, get to this show at Le Cascadeur before 28 Feb. If not, let Sound & Fury drag you there… you won’t regret it! 
Kryztoff Rating: 4.5K
>> Check out more interviews, videos, feature articles and polished previews in our Fringe Guide, http://www.kryztoff.com/fringe