John Shand | Music & Other Spheres Posts

March 27, 2016 / Album Reviews - Archive

THE GOLDILOCKS ZONE (Losen/Birdland) 8/10 That Gary Husband plays at the highest levels on both drums and piano already sets him apart. Those used to hearing his drumming in such full-frontal fusion projects as the band John McLaughlin brought here last year may well be further surprised by his ability…

March 24, 2016 / Album Reviews - Archive

SAKURA (Studio Songs) 6.5/10 Steve Barry’s Insen is a gorgeous ballad to slow the mind and engender a languid wistfulness of mood. It is a mood common to all musical cultures, and here shows the depth of rapport within this cosmopolitan, cross-generational band. Orbiturtle consists of two Sydney based players…

March 16, 2016 / Concert Reviews - Archive

Sound Lounge, March 11 8/10 Amid the plague of deaths sweeping the musicians’ community this year comes a tale of survival against the odds. In 1986 drummer John Pochee formed a 10-piece band from the cream of our jazz musicians specifically to perform music composed by its members. On Friday…