Reviews
Rob Burns - Interview Star 3/9/09Muso reflects on his stellar career
IN this special feature series,
??Banding together??, Star reporter MICHELLE McCULLOUGH explores Dunedin music and musicians from A to Z.
ROBERT Burns has been involved in music professionally and academically for almost 40 years.
The London-born University of Otago senior lecturer in contemporary music, and member of local jazz band Subject 2 Change, has been a professional recording musician for artists such as David Gilmour, Pete Townsend, Jon Lord and Ian Paice, and James Burton and has also played on television programmes such as Mr Bean and Blackadder. He has also worked as a touring musician for Isaac Hayes, The Stylistics, Edwin Starr and Sam and Dave.
??I became passionate about music in my early teens as a trumpet player in my school orchestra, but soon discovered bass guitar, which has been my passion ever since.??
When asked what the highlight of his career was Burns said three things came to mind.
??The first is when I heard my first BBC session being broadcast on the radio when I was 19. I ran to find my mother so she could hear it on our transistor radio. The second would be the Lorelei Festival in Germany when I was playing with Eric Burdon in the 1980s. There were 75,000 people in this huge valley and when I played a bass solo, my hands were projected on huge screens above the stage. The third would be a concert I played at Battersea Arts Centre in London with David Gilmour [Pink Floyd] and Mick Ralphs [Bad Company] and I remember thinking during the set how much I loved my profession.??
As for the low of his career, Burns pinpoints the punk era between 1977 and 1979.
??I had long hair, liked jazz rock and progressive music, and was out of step with the current trend.??
And the strangest point in his career? ??In a very expensive club in London discussing the various merits of racing cars with David Gilmour. I knew very little, but was expected to hold up my end of the conversation based on what Rowan Atkinson had previously told me about Aston Martins. I was driving a Ford at the time.??
Rob Burns, interviewed by the Otago Daily Times on 7 March 2009 here.
Debut CD reviewed in the ODT:
subject2change name change ODT:
Heat on a chilly night
Cambio
The Club at the Savoy 7/10/04 ODT
It is difficult to remember when Dunedin was last bathed in sunshine, but Tuesday night was hot, as Cambio brought Latin warmth and flair to a packed house at the Savoy Club with an outstanding jazz session.
Trevor Coleman first featured in Dunedin?s jazz scene in the late 1970s with Kind Of Blue and, since returning in 2001, he has enriched the local scene with his extraordinary creativity and ability to fuse many different styles and influences into a coherent performance.
Cambio is the latest rebirth of Coleman?s subject2change (a group name that reflected Coleman?s philosophy of incorporating visiting musicians and ever-changing influences and ideas). True to this philosophy, on Tuesday night Cambio utilised the suave skills of recent arrival Dan Bendrups on trombone, plus a surprise guest appearance from vocalist Colette Chapman.
The core of Cambio (formed in 2002) has been the quartet of Coleman on keyboard and trumpet, Nick Cornish on saxophone, Rob Burns on bass and Paul McLennon-Kissel on drums. The artistry and skill of these four is of the highest level, and the understanding between all the musicians was wonderful to hear.
This year, the addition of Peruvian Alfonso Rios on bongos and percussion has seen the group focus on Latin styles and rhythms: infectious, toe-tapping music delivered with energy and panache. Highlights of their set included several of the group?s own compositions, plus versions of jazz standards such as Caravan squeezed into seven four time (a device for which Cambio is noted).
Colette Chapman?s sultry, expressive vocals added variety to the evening, and she radiated warmth in her easy, velvet delivery, clear text and stylish phrasing.
