... Underrated and over here Shanklin, Isle of Wight An Evening with Bobby Crush Piano star Bobby Crush chose the Shanklin Theatre to debut his new one man show. He played for two hours and the audience still wanted more. Bobby took it all in his stride, aided by a trio of superb musicians David Carter on keyboards, Miles Seabrook on bass and drummer Cliff Longhurst. Right from the outset, with a ...

... Variety Spectacular Cardiff For the 11th successive year Chris Chambers' annual charity spectacular at the Rumney and St Mellons British Legion Club drew a capacity audience, who loved every minute of a fast moving show that contained something to please all tastes. Highspot of ented guitarist Roger Andrews' act was a selection of Shadows favourites, before music of an entirely different ...

... Music Hall, Variety and Me Jermyn Street Theatre It is right that we should be reminded from time to time that music hall and its successor variety was once a thriving industry, and Jack Seaton begins his one man show with a short history of how it came about, beginning with trie spit and sawdust halls attached to pubs in the middle of the last century and their slightly upmarket relatives, ...

... Cardiff For the 11th successive year Chris Chambers' annual Charity Spectacular at the Rumney and St Mellons British Legion Club drew a capacity audience, who loved every minute of a fast moving show that contained something to please all tastes. Highspot of talented guitarist Roger Andrews' act was a selec tion of Shadows favourites, before music of an entirely differ ent kind from songstress ...

... A fruitful West Country show Bumham-on-Sea Apple County When a showcase is well organised, runs smoothly and offers a wide variety of acts it will attract many bookers. No wonder then that over 300 of them packed the Farmers Tavern at Brean Leisure Park for the Bridgewater based Apple County 1995 Showcase. The five and a half hour pro gramme included over two dozen first class acts from all ...

... Paul Motian Trio featuring Joe Lovano Jazz Cafe Strong blowing American saxophonist Joe Lovano is a man of two jazz worlds, as he demonstrated at the Jazz Cafe, backed by fellow Paul Motian Trio members, aptly named drummer Motian and guitarist Bill Frisell playing a mandola-looking stringed instrument for a wide range of sounds. With hat and beard Joe began in a free expression, rather ...

... Don Grolnick Group Queen Elizabeth Hall Don Grolnick's CV is not of the kind that one might expect to find on a Contemporary Music Network tour--roducer of James Taylor albums, keyboards player for Linda Ronstadt and various producing and playing sessions for others in the high-grade pop spectrum, notably Steely Dan. Back in the seventies he was also associated with the Brecker Brothers and ...

... Stars from Stars in Their Eyes Hackney Empire This one-off concert from Hackney's KMS Promotions gave us a chance to see several sound and look like acts at one go. It was a cheerful, light heart ed show, well received and full of likeable easy going performers. A bit too easy going at times because one of the problems with this type of show is that however much an artist looks, or sounds, ...

... Buddy good but less noise Green Room, Cafe Royal Buddy Greco There are two things difficult to resist about Buddy Greco, his endless enthusiasm for 'the business' and his sense of humour. Now in his late sixties, it's hardly surprising his voice doesn't quite live up to those swingin' recordings of the past. But his relaxed and confident cabaret style makes him a perfect performer for the ...

... Ernani Manchester Sachio Fujioka stepped into the breach to conduct the first two performances of the Royal Northern College of Music's full scale production of Verdi's opera Emani when Noel Davies had to step down. Both orchestra and conductor rose to the occasion and were in fine form. This has been restaged by Stefan Janski but still retains the designs of Maria Bjomson. who has set the ...

... Tosca Sevenoaks What a time they are taking, frets Tosca, as she awaits her lover Cavaradossi's mock execu tion. It was a thought that struck me forcefully halfway through the Love Duet of Act I. Conductor Jonathan Butcher dragged the score along in an excess of expressivity which ren dered the drama of Tosca a shapeless goo. Section followed section devoid of rhythmic momentum. The ...

... Vintage players never better Sonning The Best of British Good evening. As you can see most of us are vintage, says the ebullient Kenny Baker, bounding to the microphone. What vintage! Six exceptional musicians with a total of over 400 years experience between them and knowing all the tricks of the trade. Baker Don Lusher, Jack Pamell, togeth er with Roy Willox, Brian Lemon and Lennie Bush ...