CLASSICAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA OF MOSCOW RADIO
Tune in. turn on
If all things Russian are your passion. then look no further than the Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio who play six symphonic classics from their homeland over the c0urse of two Usher Hall concerts. Unashamedly popular, the programmes feature Tchaikovsky's ballet music for Romeo and Juliet and Sleeping Beauty. the Violin Concerto and Francesca da Rimini as well as Shostakovich and Rachmaninov. (Carol Main)
I Usher Hall, 79 8 27 Aug, 7.30pm, £5—E33.
JAZZ BUSTER WILLIAMS QUARTET
Master bassist at the Badge
Bill Kyle has pulled off one of the most amazing Fringe jazz bookings so far in this four-night residence. it features two of the great names in post- 603 jazz. bassist Buster Williams and drummer Lenny White. along with two of the younger stars of the New York jazz scene. Steve Nelson (vibes) and George Colligan (piano).
That is the kind of line-up you might expect to find on a major festival stage rather than the Bridge Jazz Bar. but is evidence of the seriousness of Kyle's ambitions to establish the venue as a key focus for live jazz in Edinburgh.
Jazz bands led by bass players are still fairly thin on the ground, and bands with no horns are even more of a rarity in a music dominated by the pervasive influence of saxophone and trumpet.
Williams has favoured the piano- vibes format for some time now. The combination goes back at least as far as George Shearing's groundbreaking late- 4OS quintet. and it does challenge the
players to keep out of each other's sonic space. but in the right hands. it is a highly effective one.
Nelson and Colligan are well equipped to pull it off, and have the experience and musical might of the rhythm section behind them. Williams has a gloriously rich, deeply woody sound on bass which is quite compelling in itself. even before taking into account what he plays. while White is a giant in both the jazz and jazz-fusion fields. This might just go down in the folklore of the Edinburgh jazz scene. (Kenny Mathieson)
I Bridge Jazz Bar. 4 78 2570, 27-25 Aug, 77pm, £72 (£70).
CLASSICAL LEICESTERSHIRE SCHOOLS SYMPHONY
ORCHESTRA The kids are alright
The Festival of British Youth Orchestras has long been heralded as a fonNard-looking platform for contemporary musrc. Among this year's premieres at its Tollcross home is Leicestershire SchOOIs Symphony Orchestra with the first Scottish airing of In Aeternam. Written by the American composer Pierre Jalbert. it was initially brought to the attention of an international audience through winning the prestigious Masterprize competition in 2001 for approachable new
FIVE REASONS TO GO SEE .
JAY FARRAR
Alt.country guru hits town
1. The name of Jay Farrar's last solo album (released in September 2001) was Sebastopol. taken from the name of the Ukranian port (pronounced Sevastopol) on the Black Sea which was captured and destroyed by British, French and Turkish forces after a siege of 11 months (1854-55) during the Crimean War. It was later taken by the Germans in 1942 after eight months. 2. Or was it the small semi-urban community located on the western edge of the Santa Rosa plain in Northern California of the same name
(pop: 7.900 approx)?
3. Or was it named after Vestapol: an open-G guitar tuning ‘favoured by blues and slide
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guitarists as well as many folksingers and modern fingerstylists' (Source: Acoustic Guitar Magazine)? 4. All you really need to know is that Jay Farrar is alt.country royalty whose work with Uncle Tupelo (featuring Wilco's Jeff Tweedy) and with Son Volt is about as good as it gets (No Depression and Trace are generic milestones). As a solo artist. songs like 'Barstow' and 'Drowned Son' prove him to be the missing link between Michael Stipe and the Flaming Lips.
5. Fans of alt-country hope one day to see Jay Farrar do a surprise reunion gig with Tweedy. Could it happen here? Doubtful. but buy a ticket anyway and see if the suspense kills you. Oh, and get there early for Jason Walker too. (Paul Dale) I Studio 24. 226 7070, 79 Aug, 7. 30pm. £9.
TENNENT’S VELVET
We may be halfway through the Velvet Laughter Master Series but you can still catch some fantastic comedy and enjoy some free Tennent‘s Velvet until 26 August by cutting out the voucher below. Doug Stanhope starts his stint at the Tron from 15 — 20 August; direct from Los Angeles and these are his first ever UK and Fringe shows. Then starting 21 August, you can see Craig Campbell until 26 August. As seen in Hanoi, this Moosef“ker returns to Edinburgh tor his only
Fringe shows.
Tickets are available from the Fringe box office at 180 High Street, Edinburgh. Tel: 0131 226 0000 and tickets are priced at 27/ £6.50. Just ask for tickets for the Velvet Laughter Master Series and not by
individual comedian.
TENNENT’
W * VELVET
AT E SEW ES
This voucher entitles you to receive one pint of Tennent's Velvet for free when you purchase one at the Tron (downstairs bar) during the Velvet Laughter Master Series
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Valid from Thursday 15 August - Monday 26 August Venue 9, Hunter Square. Royal Mile, Edinburgh 10.30-11.30pm
You must be 18 years old or over. Otter ls subject to availability. Entrance In to the Velvet Laughter Master Series Is not Included in this voucher. Voucher only valid In the downstairs bar. There is no cash alternative. This otter Is not
valid In conjunction with any other offer. Only original vouchers are valid.
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As T on the Fringe continues to impress the masses with its fantastic line up of one-off music gigs throughout August, Tennent‘s‘Lager is continuing to offer List readers 2 for 1 pints of its fine lager to keep
those thirsts quenched.
Gigs are taking place at the Liquid Room, Corn Exchange, Queen‘s Hall and the Royal Highland Centre (voucher not valid at this venue). In the next couple of weeks you can catch the Stereophonics, Badly Drawn Boy, the Charlatans, Mull Historical Society, Haven, Love with Arthur Lee plus many more. To enjoy your free pint of Tennent‘s Lager, simply cut out the voucher below and take it along to any T on the Fringe gig (except for gigs at the Royal Highland Centre).
Tickets can be bought at local outlets, via www.tonthefringe.com or Ticketmaster's 24 hour hotline on 0870 169 0100.
2FOR1
AT T ON THE FRINGE
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This voucher entitles you to *" pint or bottle of Tennent's Lager for tree when you purchase another at any T on the Fringe (jig i.-.. .-..i ii..,..i
Valid from Thursday 1 5 August - Saturday 31 August
TERMS 8- CONDITIONS: You rim-.1 he 18 years old _I_ or over. Olfer is subject to availability. Entrance in W J - to T on the Fringe venues. as not included in this voucher. There is. no cash alternativrr. This oller is
not valid in (ZOIIIUIILIIOH With any other oIIr-r Only original vouchers are valid I’ll I I" l.‘. '1’ I. ;...'..I
75—22 Aug 2002 TH. LIST FESTIVAL OUIOI 53