The Edinburgh festival 2004 -- Reviews -- Music -- (W) -- 2 out of 50

(W) 2 out of 50

Rating Guide
None = Unmissable

= Unwatchable
Page number refers to the Fringe programme

The World According to Bach (Page 192)
Drams 0
Music J.S. Bach (Various)
Musicians Geoffrey Thomas (fortepiano) who also plays the character of C. P. E. Bach
Venue 1/4rm @ Greenside (Venue 231)
Address 1b Royal Terrace
Reviewer Nick Scott

Geoffrey Thomas as C P E Bach

There are some musicians who are principally performers. There are those who make better educators. But few musicians can combine the two as successfully as Geoffrey Thomas.

Mr. Thomas makes J. S. Bach come alive through the 'medium'of this one-man show in which he plays the part of Bach's third son, Carl Philipp Emanuel. Using just enough props to set the scene- C. P. E. Bach's Hamburg home in the year 1780 - we are given the opportunity to enter into the "period" and spend an hour or so in his presence.

C. P. E. would dearly love to tell you about himself (after all, he is Europe's greatest keyboard player); but he concedes that we have really come to hear about his father, the great Johann Sebastian Bach

What ensues is a fascinating combination of theatre and live music in which C. P. E. shares his thoughts with the audience, as we are told of the "conflicts" between father and son - the grief, the sorrow, the anguish. There are "lighter" touches as well, such as when C.P.E. shares some of his father's eccentricities. In addition, there is the musical element - and here, we are treated to Mr Thomas' masterful command of the fortepiano. These "interludes" (sometimes used to emphasise a point; and at other times used to demonstrate a musical detail) are all an integral part of the play.

Geoffrey Thomas

Mr Thomas' play is well-crafted, witty, instructive - and above all, fun!

A refreshing and remarkable insight into the life of J. S. Bach - the "real" man. Thanks to Mr Thomas, my knowledge of Bach has been widened. Geoffrey Thomas has a rare gift for communication and the audience lapped it up! If you enjoy good music, The World According to Bach is a must - don't miss it!

This production of The World According to Bach is a UK Premiere. It is devised and written by Geoffrey Thomas and directed by the Hungarian Attila Vidnyánszky.
© Nick Scott 9th August 2004 © Images www.theater.hu (Béla Ilovszky)

Run 6-14 August (18.15) Published on www.edinburghguide.com.
See also www.geoffreythomas.hu

Mike Whellans (page 119)
Celtic Roots Festival
Drams
Music Blues from the Borders Delta
Musicians Mike Whellans & Graham Scott
Venue Edinburgh Corn Exchange (Venue 77)
Address 11 Newmarket Road
Reviewer Eoghann MacGregor

Mike Whellans must always have been destined for a musical career. Following in the footsteps of his father Bobby, a well respected jazz musician, he was playing drums for local groups around his home town of Galashiels by the time he was 14 years old and achieving recognition as a fine Scottish traditional musician in the early 70's, playing guitar, bodhran and singing with the legendary Scottish/Irish group Boys of the Lough. Having also worked in a duo with fellow 'Boy', Shetland fiddler Aly Bain, Mike eventually decided to follow his heart and opted to take the blues message to the people, developing his trademark live-wire one-man band style in the tradition of bluesmen like the great Duster Bennet.

Having recently returned to live in Scotland after working extensively around Europe and spending years pleasing the blues enthusiasts in his adopted home of Denmark, he's playing here at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as part of the Celtic Roots Festival, headlined by infamous ex-pogue Shane McGowan. Doubling the size of his band for the night, Mike's recruited Edinburgh-based piano player Graham Scott whose rolling New-Orleans honky-tonk belies his roots and blends perfectly with Mike's mix of wailing blues harp, rock solid rhythm guitar, pin sharp vocals, hard-driving kick drum and hi-hat.

Mike Whellans:
Almost 42nd Street

Primarily a live artist, Mike has also made several highly credible records over the years, his latest CD release Almost 42nd St seeing him reunited with yet another of his old bandmates, ex-Boy of the Lough Robin Morton occupying the producer's seat this time around. Word has it that this authentic sounding album was recorded practically 'live' in the studio, Mike's simultaneous instrument multitasking making multiple overdubs unnecessary and allowing him to eschew the over-edited and ubiquitous 'Pro Tools' sound that's becoming all too common. Between them, Whellans and Morton have done a sterling job of capturing his high energy style but it's only fair to say that you haven't really "heard" Mike Whellans until you've actually witnessed his astounding live show.

Kicking off with his own up-tempo instrumental Jamming the Blues we're then treated to a selection of originals and a showcase of blues classics from some of the past masters. Jimmy Reed's Baby what d'you want me to dois delivered with bucketloads of swaggering boogie woogie style and a raunchy version of Slim Harpo's Strange Love is also given the action-packed Whellans treatment. Graham Scott gets a chance to show off his barrelhouse piano chops on a Pinetop Perkins solo before Mike steps in again and shows his respect to the 'daddy' of bluesmen with a stomping version of John Lee Hooker's I love you baby.

The highlight of the show is Mike's own Smile on your face, a storming harp solo which evolves into his own unique form of vocal percussion and beatboxing. This 'one-man and a mic' drum solo has to be seen to be believed and inevitably causes the crowd to double-take in incredulous fashion before erupting into a round of spontaneous applause.

Unfortunately the set has to be cut short due to time constraints and Mike turns in a rabble rousing Shim Sham Shimmy to wind things up, leaving the stage to great acclaim. Scottish Blues lovers should make it their mission to seek this man out - Denmark's loss is our gain!

© Eoghann MacGregor. 27 August 2004. Published on www.edinburghguide.com

(W) 2 out of 50


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