YOUR GUIDE TO EDINBURGH'S FESTIVALS
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ED2014 4/5 Reviews ED2014 Music Reviews
Acoustic Swing (Graeme Mearns)
By Dave Fargnoli | Published on Tuesday 12 August 2014
When Graeme Mearns kicks off this retrospective of great 20th century songwriters with ‘Blitzkrieg Bop’, you know he’s casting a wide net. While his choices might confuse traditionalists, there’s no denying they make for an interesting set, mixing Gershwin with the Buzzcocks, Cole Porter with Bananarama. They’re all given a swinging, up-tempo treatment, where crisp chord work accelerates suddenly into chunky, bluesy licks. The highlight is a moody take on ‘Georgia on my mind,’ and if Mearns’ voice isn’t quite equal to Ray Charles, he still knows what he’s doing. An experienced front man, he has enough skill and charisma to keep the audience hooked. As much acoustic punk as swing, this is an enjoyable and frequently electrifying gig.
The Jazz Bar, until 24 Aug.
tw rating 4/5 | [Dave Fargnoli]
