MQWME’ES seem
They definitely aren’t bakers The Bagels are a five-piece band with a shared love for 182?. klezmer and the music of the Balkans. and they mix and match those influences in compelling fashion. Phil Alexander is a cool pianist And not only with Moishe's. either. His excellent tango-irieets-iazz trio Tangalgo is another wrnner. and he is a regular wrth two of the most eclectic (and popular“: hands in town. Mr McFall's Chamber and Salsa Celtica. Eclecticism is a good thing We all need genre purists to keep us honest. but there is no Question that creative fusions like the ones the Bagels serve up are in the (lrrvrng seat in the contemporary music scene.
Personal expression rules The Bagels are not out to create an authentic seiind. but rather to allow their particular mix of influences and interaction Within the hand to produce something more personal to them.
You can dance your heart out The eastern European energy of the rriuSic invites demands. in fact -- that you move your feet and shake your ass. Balkanstyle. Might be tricky in the Brunton, thOugli. (Kenny Mathiesonl
till. Brunton Theatre. 66:3 2240. 25-26 AUJ, 7.30pm, £7 7.50 (£9).
ANTONIO FORCIONE QUARTET
Guitar star continues to shine 0...
Nos; a ir‘ainstay of the l'rrnge. Antonio l ()lfil()7‘(} is an artist that everyone should experience at least once. It's not so ii‘uc i that the styles the Italian guitarist deals in a hlend ot gypsy folk. African rhythms and l atln grooves are anything new. more that lizs execution of them is technically astounding.
Not last l etcione lllll‘fSOIl, who plays the guitar mirth tz'eathtaking fluency i-_-.ritness his solo pzece 'loiich Vv’ood'. in garnicli the lx‘i'ly of the guitar l)(:(;()ll‘(:T; a pr.»r<:ussrxe instrumentl. hut also his the of accom;tallying rnultl instrunrentalrsts from around the glohe and the special guest inclusion of a (I()ill)l(3 liassrst.
()uite s'iiiplg. from i orcrone's guitar to the accordion. cello and percussion hacking. this shou'x is hoth a
100 THE LIST FESTIVAL MAGAZINE
in music. A time when style mags ruled the earth, unearthing the gems of the
dancefloor and heralding them as our saviours. The style mags are long gone and dance music may not be the force it once was but the Jaxx have gone from strength to strength, becoming a celebrated album band while
hosting some of the most mentalist parties-dressed-as-gigs in years. Corn Exchange. 0870 109 0/00. 28 Aug. 7pm. SOl D OUT. Part of T on the Fringesee Offers page. for ticket giveaways.
musicianiy masterclass and a hreathtaking live experience.
rDavid Pollocki
I Asserrih/y Rooms. 9230 2-128. untr/ 5.95) Aug. 8.55mi). 579.550 i’f‘l 1.50;.
GUY PRATT - MY BASS AND OTHER ANIMALS
Bass player tells the jokes rather then being the butt of them 0000
An hour of rip—roaring anecdotes from a professional hass player who co wrote a song with Jimmy Nail? No. come hack? It's far hotter than it sounds. Wlill the speed of Guy Pratt's nimhle fingers on his instrument ialiemi surpassed hy his ever-ready Wit. Stories of ridiculous egomania involved in working as a live and
session musician for the likes of Madonna. Michael Jackson and Pink Floyd could have easily made for a dry article for a mature music maga/ine. llie upshot. however. is consistently top-flight comedy and gives Pratt —- and his audience 7 the last laugh of all. rEmma Newlandsl
I Underbelly 08 70 ME) 3083. until 28 Aug. 5‘8-5‘5) (51560 57.50).
TOMMY SMITH YOUTH JAZZ ORCHESTRA
The next generation
Saxophonist Tommy Smith famously attended Berklee College in Boston as a 10 year old. and has always heen a strong advocate of the value of ia// education. He still harbours amhitions to set up a ia/x academy in Scotland. and is doing his hit to hung on the next generation of ia// musicians in this hig hand. which he set up using his own money.
of trumpeter Philip Cardwell and saxophonist l'heo Forrest. players who are still young hut have already made a significant impact wrth their seniors. the hand has already led players into the Scottish National .lax/ Orchestra iSmrth was prevented from using the SNYJO name after ohlections from exrsting youth hands). The latest. haritone saxophonist Billy Fleming. made his dehut with the SNJO at the .la// Festival. and acguitted himself well in a demanding programme. lKenny lvlathlesoni I Bl'lllifO/l Theatre. secs 99-10. 97 Aug. /'.()‘0prrl. 5‘5) l.l‘()‘.:30i.
TRISTAN AND ISOLDE
Suitably spectacular Wagner
Love and death. that's the story really in Tristan and Isolde. But the telling of it is the most intensely povxerlul and erotic of all Wagner's single operas. or music dramas. as he preferred to term thorn. The fatal attraction l)et\.'-/eeri Tristan and the Irish princess Isolde hrings secrecy. suffering. death and love potions. the latter not really necessary and resulting in uncontrollahle passion. for the opera's