Reviews and Comments
Jazz Rep Company's Paul Whiteman Concert, Cadogan Hall November 2015, Peter Vacher Jazzwise Magazine
"In a concert packed with moments to savour, just to hear Barker’s recreation of Bix’s sublime solo on ‘Singing the Blues’ was a joy but then so too was violinist Emma Fisk’s recall of Joe Venuti on the small group version of ‘Raggin’ the Scale’, complete with David Horniblow’s bass saxophone and the guitar work of Martin Wheatley."
Venuti And Lang @ The Jazz Cafe, Newcastle upon Tyne; Review by Lance Liddle, July 8th 2016
A violin/guitar duo in The Caff on a Friday night had me wondering if they'd be able to compete with the Friday night ravers - a body not noted for taking vows of silence. However, this was a tribute to the timeless music of Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang who, I'm sure, had noisier audiences to deal with back in the days of prohibition in the speakeasies of Chicago and New York.
As it happened, until The Caff's bathtub gin kicked in, the audience were respectful and only made with the decibels when it mattered i.e. loud and prolonged applause at the end of each number.
Make no mistake, this was a gig that mattered. Truly outstanding performances by two top draw instrumentalists totally au fait with the music they were recreating. Emma Fisk swings like few violinists do whilst Jim Birkett (I can't get used to calling him James) can cover just about any style from Lang to Metheny via Django and Christian. Together, it was a musical marriage made in Pink Lane.
The repertoire was the familiar, the not so familiar and occasionally the unknown. The opener, Pardon me Pretty Baby, set the benchmark which was pretty high and, as the evening progressed, just got higher and higher! Cheese and Crackers; Summertime; I Can't Give You Anything But Love; I Found a New Baby; Hiawatha's Lullaby; Sunday; Dinah; Georgia on my Mind and Raggin' the Scale.
Halftime and France v Portugal will have to score ten goals each to match this!
My Honey's Lovin' Arms; I'm Confessin' Blue Bottom; Someone to Watch Over me; It Had to be You; Kickin' the Cat; It's Only a Paper Moon; Sunshine and Autumn Leaves brought my evening to a close - Metro beckoned. I say 'brought my evening to a close' but it didn't. The songs, the fiddling, the guitar chords were in my head and I was oblivious to the Friday night mayhem around me. I now know what it's like to live in a parallel universe!
Venuti & Lang @ Ilkley Jazz Festival, August 19th 2016: Review by Steve Tulip
We spent the early part of the evening in French restaurant Monkmans listening to one Emma Fisk introducing a selection of Joe Venuti/ Eddie Lang music accompanied, as ever, by the mythical gypsy guitar of James Birkett.
Sparks never fail to fly when you put these two giants of north east music together and tonight was no exception.... with Someone to Watch Over Me the highpoint for me, Emma wringing every last ounce of emotion from her violin.
Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival, 2014 Reviewed by Paul Spencer and David Wright
Djangologie
"There is never ever any ending to Paris..." Ernest Hemingway said once. One feels that Djangologie's gypsy jazz, akin to the guitar style of Django Reinhardt first played around the hotclubs of Paris in the thirties, should have no end to it either.
This virtuoso four piece consisting of two guitars, double bass and violin spirit us away from the grand home and well kept gardens to a smoked filled Parisian bar, next to the Eiffel Tower, particularly during Reinhardt numbers such as 'Diner's Swing' and 'Swing 39'. There are few more joyous sounds than that of the sweet jazz violin and Emma Fisk plays the intricate lines once played by Stephane Grappelli masterfully, but with her own musical identity. It's just what the doctor ordered for a Sunday afternoon, as luxurious-looking food hampers are opened, wine is poured and fresh cream trickles over strawberries .
"You're all miles away," remarks guitarist James Birkett, but along with guitarist Giles Strong, they capture the gypsy rhythmic style authentically and it doesn't feel like there is any distance, for their music engages the audience wherever they are sitting.
"Nuages" one of Reinhardt's more famous compositions, is played slowly and confirms that Djangologie aren't afraid to interpret these numbers in their own style. Reinhardt would have surely nodded in approval if he was still around today, as he recorded thirteen different versions of the song. The haunting violin melody, once played by Grappelli, is interpreted superbly by Fisk, creating a tranquil moment for punters across the lawn and the guitar solos verify that Birkett and Strong are masters of their instruments and this style of playing. The English translation of the song is 'Clouds'; it makes a perfect accompaniment as I head back into the grand hall to catch the last act of the day indoors; as white clouds drift over the Elizabethan Stately home, the last thing I hear is the four piece increasing the tempo with another Reinhardt classic: 'Stompin at Decca'.
A review from the 2013 Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party by Lance at Be-bop Spoken Here:
"I missed Banjo Crackerjacks but returned to the auditorium for The Dark Angel of the Violin which was a tribute to Eddie South and Stuff Smith featuring the north-east's own dark angel of the violin - Emma Fisk (pictured with Spats Langham sans spats, Richard Pite , drums, Jean-Francoise Bonnel, sax and Henry Lemaire on bass.)
This was an eye-opener! I've heard Emma many times with Djangologie and always enjoyed her playing albeit perhaps maybe taking it for granted - never again!
As she did on Friday with Daryl, Emma once again astounded me with her exciting solos except this afternoon she moved up a gear! Not only did she swing like the proverbial but she did it whilst simulating Stuff Smith and Eddie South, no easy task! With Jeff Barnhart on piano (and vocal on You'se a Viper) Emma gave a demonstration of jazz fiddle that, for me, was a festival highlight - perhaps the festival highlight!. In particular, the final number Stuff Smith's Skip It made me glad I hadn't skipped this one! Oh yes and she can front a band! Emma's introductions were both witty and informative."
November 4th 2013
"In a concert packed with moments to savour, just to hear Barker’s recreation of Bix’s sublime solo on ‘Singing the Blues’ was a joy but then so too was violinist Emma Fisk’s recall of Joe Venuti on the small group version of ‘Raggin’ the Scale’, complete with David Horniblow’s bass saxophone and the guitar work of Martin Wheatley."
Venuti And Lang @ The Jazz Cafe, Newcastle upon Tyne; Review by Lance Liddle, July 8th 2016
A violin/guitar duo in The Caff on a Friday night had me wondering if they'd be able to compete with the Friday night ravers - a body not noted for taking vows of silence. However, this was a tribute to the timeless music of Joe Venuti and Eddie Lang who, I'm sure, had noisier audiences to deal with back in the days of prohibition in the speakeasies of Chicago and New York.
As it happened, until The Caff's bathtub gin kicked in, the audience were respectful and only made with the decibels when it mattered i.e. loud and prolonged applause at the end of each number.
Make no mistake, this was a gig that mattered. Truly outstanding performances by two top draw instrumentalists totally au fait with the music they were recreating. Emma Fisk swings like few violinists do whilst Jim Birkett (I can't get used to calling him James) can cover just about any style from Lang to Metheny via Django and Christian. Together, it was a musical marriage made in Pink Lane.
The repertoire was the familiar, the not so familiar and occasionally the unknown. The opener, Pardon me Pretty Baby, set the benchmark which was pretty high and, as the evening progressed, just got higher and higher! Cheese and Crackers; Summertime; I Can't Give You Anything But Love; I Found a New Baby; Hiawatha's Lullaby; Sunday; Dinah; Georgia on my Mind and Raggin' the Scale.
Halftime and France v Portugal will have to score ten goals each to match this!
My Honey's Lovin' Arms; I'm Confessin' Blue Bottom; Someone to Watch Over me; It Had to be You; Kickin' the Cat; It's Only a Paper Moon; Sunshine and Autumn Leaves brought my evening to a close - Metro beckoned. I say 'brought my evening to a close' but it didn't. The songs, the fiddling, the guitar chords were in my head and I was oblivious to the Friday night mayhem around me. I now know what it's like to live in a parallel universe!
Venuti & Lang @ Ilkley Jazz Festival, August 19th 2016: Review by Steve Tulip
We spent the early part of the evening in French restaurant Monkmans listening to one Emma Fisk introducing a selection of Joe Venuti/ Eddie Lang music accompanied, as ever, by the mythical gypsy guitar of James Birkett.
Sparks never fail to fly when you put these two giants of north east music together and tonight was no exception.... with Someone to Watch Over Me the highpoint for me, Emma wringing every last ounce of emotion from her violin.
Burton Agnes Jazz and Blues Festival, 2014 Reviewed by Paul Spencer and David Wright
Djangologie
"There is never ever any ending to Paris..." Ernest Hemingway said once. One feels that Djangologie's gypsy jazz, akin to the guitar style of Django Reinhardt first played around the hotclubs of Paris in the thirties, should have no end to it either.
This virtuoso four piece consisting of two guitars, double bass and violin spirit us away from the grand home and well kept gardens to a smoked filled Parisian bar, next to the Eiffel Tower, particularly during Reinhardt numbers such as 'Diner's Swing' and 'Swing 39'. There are few more joyous sounds than that of the sweet jazz violin and Emma Fisk plays the intricate lines once played by Stephane Grappelli masterfully, but with her own musical identity. It's just what the doctor ordered for a Sunday afternoon, as luxurious-looking food hampers are opened, wine is poured and fresh cream trickles over strawberries .
"You're all miles away," remarks guitarist James Birkett, but along with guitarist Giles Strong, they capture the gypsy rhythmic style authentically and it doesn't feel like there is any distance, for their music engages the audience wherever they are sitting.
"Nuages" one of Reinhardt's more famous compositions, is played slowly and confirms that Djangologie aren't afraid to interpret these numbers in their own style. Reinhardt would have surely nodded in approval if he was still around today, as he recorded thirteen different versions of the song. The haunting violin melody, once played by Grappelli, is interpreted superbly by Fisk, creating a tranquil moment for punters across the lawn and the guitar solos verify that Birkett and Strong are masters of their instruments and this style of playing. The English translation of the song is 'Clouds'; it makes a perfect accompaniment as I head back into the grand hall to catch the last act of the day indoors; as white clouds drift over the Elizabethan Stately home, the last thing I hear is the four piece increasing the tempo with another Reinhardt classic: 'Stompin at Decca'.
A review from the 2013 Whitley Bay Classic Jazz Party by Lance at Be-bop Spoken Here:
"I missed Banjo Crackerjacks but returned to the auditorium for The Dark Angel of the Violin which was a tribute to Eddie South and Stuff Smith featuring the north-east's own dark angel of the violin - Emma Fisk (pictured with Spats Langham sans spats, Richard Pite , drums, Jean-Francoise Bonnel, sax and Henry Lemaire on bass.)
This was an eye-opener! I've heard Emma many times with Djangologie and always enjoyed her playing albeit perhaps maybe taking it for granted - never again!
As she did on Friday with Daryl, Emma once again astounded me with her exciting solos except this afternoon she moved up a gear! Not only did she swing like the proverbial but she did it whilst simulating Stuff Smith and Eddie South, no easy task! With Jeff Barnhart on piano (and vocal on You'se a Viper) Emma gave a demonstration of jazz fiddle that, for me, was a festival highlight - perhaps the festival highlight!. In particular, the final number Stuff Smith's Skip It made me glad I hadn't skipped this one! Oh yes and she can front a band! Emma's introductions were both witty and informative."
November 4th 2013
