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Gino Vannelli in London, U.K. 6 & 7 April 2007:
Comments & Stories: From the Editors B&T This is one of the worst e-mails we received in all those years since we have this Gino Vannelli hobby, those people never ever write to us only when they have something bad and untrue things to write.............. They do not give opinions about Gino Vannelli albums or they do not support us with this fan site, NOTHING... Only when the negativety strikes in... 99,9% of our incoming e-mails with the subject: GINO VANNELLI and HIS LIFE'S WORK is very and extreme positive so this 0,1% negative part can be neglected for sure. We still decided to post this e-mail to show you all what people write in a negative way and they are the only one who feels this way as far as we know. Negative or jealous people are more eager to write..... Here we go with the very FIRST e-mail we received on Saterday 7 April 2007: An e-mail from Dave Walters dated 7 April 2007 with the subject: Gino Vannelli in the Jazz Café in London. Hi Guys He started very low key with a couple of new songs then went into a few bars of Appaloosa. He did some more new songs which were ok but read the lyrics from songsheets, which was unprofessional. I could have lived with this if he had performed enough ‘oldies’ but the ones he did were almost unrecognisable as they were completely different arrangements. He also performed People Gotta Move twice and allowed a time wasting drum solo. I first saw Gino about 15 years ago when he last played in London and he was fantastic. I am sad to say I wish I had left it at that and not gone last night. Sorry to be so negative but I feel so disappointed…. Dave. A new reaction by e-mail from Dave Walters in the U.K. dated 18 April 2007 with the subject Gino Vannelli... Interested to see you published my email on your website. I accept your criticism that I have not contributed before regarding new material and as such it appears I have only contributed in a negative way. For the record, I have been a fan since the 1970s and own every CD Gino has made. I saw him play in London in the early 1990s (which was fantastic) and travelled to Paris a few years later so I think I have earned the right to have an opinion. Vocally, Gino was fantastic and I would have expected nothing less. However I think rearranging every ‘old’ song was wrong and I was disappointed with the evening for the reasons stated. Maybe my expectations were too high but there you are. I would rather be honest than sychophantic…. Dave.
Here I Go Shooting My Mouth Off Again! As for the drum solo???? I've heard Erik Kooger play drums!! Someone better tell Dave, drummers have BIG biceps!!! Haha!! W. from Germany An e-mail from Tom London in the U. K dated Saterday 7 April 2007 with the subject: Gino in London.
Greeting Barend & Trees, Please find attached four pictures taken from last nights show at the JazzCafe, London. I'll send some more over from tonight's performance (Saturday) later. Gino was in fine voice and the crowd were very appreciative of his fantastic performance. The venue is very intimate and very famous. The band played brilliantly and I was particularly impressed with the drummer. Michael Borstlap was fantastic and such a nice guy to talk with. Gino performed a number of brand new songs and needed his lyric sheet to prompt him on occasions. As always he waited behind after the show and signed autographs and had his picture taken with fans. News: Michael confirmed that he and Gino would be playing this years (2007) North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam. This came as fantastic news because Kerry (my wife) and I have just booked our hotel and paid for our 2007 festival tickets after having such a great time last year in the new Rotterdam venue. I will drop you a note tomorrow with a report on tonight's performance and thanks you both once again for the safe delivery of the record.
Best wishes B&T the Editors: We think your pictures are pretty good concidering the dark club. You can see your 4 pictures on this web page. Thanks Tom!
An e-mail from Pénélope in France dated Monday 9 April 2007 with the subject: LONDON
Hello Barend, Hello Trees, The 2 concerts in London at the Jazz Café were amazing, of course, and the funny things is that in the public, i have recognized fans i ve seen sometimes on your site, because of your web photos of fans. I ve talked with french fans too, came specially from France to see Gino Vannelli on stage, and talked with english people too. Well those concerts were great and we had the pleasure to discover new songs. " Ever more", " Dont give up", ... Extraordinary beautiful new songs. I liked very much " Dont Give up", really ... We listened also old songs with new arrangements, and i liked very much the arrangements of " It hurts to be in love ". Another song ! The concert start by "Gypsy Days", and when Gino Vannelli sing it, everyone in the audience is very attentive. A friend came with me at the 2 concerts and he said often to me between the songs : "Je prends une claque " . French expression very difficult to translate, means that for him what he saw was really incredible, and my friend goes to the see artists concerts very often, because hes working for a radio. The complicity between Gino Vannelli and his musicians is really visible, and the audience received it like a gift. I have not really photos to send you because i didnt take it during the concert, i didnt want to bother with my flash.
After the show on saturday, Gino Vannelli met his fans so i m sure you will receive a lot of pictures and impressions.
Best regards from France. An e-mail from Claude & Nadine also from France dated Monday 9 April 2007 with the subject: London calling
Hi Barend! Hi Trees! So here was the playlist (not necessarily in order since I didn't keep score). I hope I didn't forget a song
Gino seems very happy about how things are coming along and may head back to the studios this August to start recording. Things are looking mighty good! Take Care! Claude An e-mail from Werner in Germany dated Tuesday 10 April 2007 with the subject: Gino Vannelli in LONDON
Dear Trees and Barend,
Gino was always kidding with the English audience, he remembers the shows he played in London in former times and offers a view to his heart too, when telling the stories of life and how he creates the songs and what there is the story behind the words... The audience was very open hearted and enjoyed the show. With “People gotta move” he got all the people on their feet. By the way, most of the people came from Netherlands and I ve known them from the different Amsterdam shows. The Jazz Café is a very intimate small club in the heart of London. I´d estimate there was only seats and space for finally 250 persons (floor and gallery). Many famous Musicians had the honor to perform there. Michiel Borstlap set the crown to that performance. What a magical way of playing the piano. To me, he´s the best piano - artist on this planet. And now that it happened that the best singer on this planet and the best pianoman came together is a real gift that every music-lover should enjoy. Michiel puts new and never heard styles in Ginos former songs and creates new unique music with Gino as well. The way he sails and swims in the music (…you have to see his face) is not to explain. I feel there are two heads but only one brain – Gino and Michiel. Thank you “MAGIC MICHIEL” we will never forget. The bassplayer (I didn´t know him) and the man on the battery completed the hole show with routine and passion. Well, it´s been the first time my daughter Anna – belle was on a Gino concert. She´s still so young but felt the same that most of the people do. She was impressed by Ginos voice and music life, of course -and she loved Michiel playing the piano -and I have to take an eye on that, cause she says: “Michiel is so lovely”.
Can you see in her eyes and face how happy she is?
So far, we´d been a little unhappy with the photographs (Gino after show) but very happy with the photograph (Michiel after show).
I´ll send you all on CD and the favourites via email now. Use what you need or want.
See you soon in Amersfoort and Bilzen.
All our best wishes to you Crazy People An e-mail from Rob in the U.K. dated Friday 13 April 2007 with the subject: Gino Vannelli in the Jazz Café
Hey is that Dave Guy from another planet? Many people enjoyed 2 concerts in 2 nights!
If you are a complete newcommer to the man's great talent, or you simply know all the 'hits': Buy all his albums and listen... The whole world gets a kick out of a GINO VANNELLI live concert and Dave is disappointed... CANNOT BE TRUE!!! Rob. Another e-mail from Tom, London in the U.K. dated Friday 13 April 2007 with the subject: Re: Gino in London
My dear Barend & Trees, Aaaagh ......I was VERY disappointed to read 'Dave's review of the first night of Gino's London show...............I just can't believe he is talking about the same concert!! It is true that Gino seemed a little tired on the first night and also appeared a little nervous at first. There is no doubt that the show on Saturday night was probably slightly more 'dynamic' than Friday's, nevertheless the quality of Gino's voice, the arrangements, the virtuosity of the band were all first class and exactly what I have come to expect after all these years and unlike Dave, after I have seen Gino perform all over Europe as you well know. What really hacks me off here in the UK is that people still bang on about his material from 25-30 years ago when Canto, Walter Whitman, Slow Love etc are all classics and very contemporary. It is the very reason that Gino re-arranges all his 'old songs' which keeps them fresh and relevant and long may that continue. If Dave had kept up with his new material he might have got more out of the show!! I was really delighted with both nights and sincerely hope it won't be another 15 or so years until he is back in the UK, particularly as it costs me a fortune to keep flying to the Netherlands, France and Italy! It was also lovely to meet old Gino friends from the Netherlands who had travelled to London for the shows. With regards to your question about The North Sea Jazz Festival, I have been attending the NSJF for many years, even before Gino played with the Metropole, in fact it was at the NSJF I first saw Michiel Borstlap perform. Den Hague is a wonderful city but the 'Congress Centre' was getting far too busy. I had my doubts when they announced the move to Rotterdam in 2005 but I have to say that the organisation was better, the publicity and the direction signs at tram and train stops were better. The 'Ahoy' centre looked remarkably liked the Congress Centre when inside and in fact many of the rooms have a very similar appearance and feel. Kerry and I had such a great time last year that we immediately booked again some months ago. You can therefore imagine how pleased I was when Michiel confirmed that he and Gino would be playing this year (it is now also confirmed on Michiel web-site). What a great start ..... Please tell Gino that it was fantastic to see him again and very much appreciated that he stopped for photos and autographs.
The shows were great and he's still the best there is. Another photo made by Tom, London.
Tom,
London
An e-mail from a fan in the U.K. dated Friday 13 April 2007 with the subject: Gino Vannelli
Excellent !!! In my opinion this is one of the better Vannelli shows. This is Vannelli in great form. Most of the songs are superb. last Friday night was pure heaven on earth. An e-mail from a fan with NO name dated Friday 13 April 2007 with the subject: Knight of the Road... Hello all, I too was at the Jazz Cafe on Saturday and what an excellent show it was too. The new material he was trying out sounded great as well, especially Knight of the Road. When did Gino reappear for the chat and pics? I was the tall guy propped up at the bar at the side of the stage taking photos but went and sat down in the other bar after the show and obviously missed him. I totally agree with the comments of the brilliance of Michael Borstlap on keyboards. I was standing right behind him and his playing was awesome. Let's hope its not another 14 years before Gino returns to London. An e-mail from Mick Baker in the U.K. dated Friday 26 April 2007 with the subject: gino in london
Hi There, Just writing Hi.
Hi Barend & Trees, After the gig I decided after travelling 300 miles to see my hero that I would try & have my photo taken with god, sorry Gino & I was fortunate enough, along with a lot more of his fans to get my photo taken as you can see. A bit later on that night myself & my wife were standing talking round about midnight outside my hotel when I couldn,t believe my eyes, Gino & Michael borstapp(keyboards) walked right passed me into the same hotel, so I just had to follow Gino & have a few words with him about the show & explain it was the second time I have seen him in london, travelling to london from Newcastle on both occasions (previous concert at the marquee club in 1992) ending my conversation with Gino to not be another 15 years before I could see him live again in England. It was a truly incredible night! one I shall never forget. here are a few photos from that night. keep up the great work, fantastic website. speak soon, Dave
A few lines from the London media: (1): Gino Vannelli: Saterday April 7 Jazz Café, 5 Parkway, NW1 7PG, London. "Canadian pop icon who was a contemporary of Steely Dan touts hits such as 'People Gotta Move' and 'Living Inside Myself'. (2):
Why he gets scorn Over time, all these quirks were mitigated just enough to give him a #2 hit in 1978 with the sappy ballad "I Just Wanna Stop." So Gino probably didn't get all that widely criticized, because nobody noticed him much when he was more prone to show his bizarre side. Lucky him. Why I dig him, anyway Vannelli had some pretensions of being a soul-jazz inflected prog rocker before he eventually settled for just getting a few AM hits, but while he often failed in that pursuit, he came up with some interesting, melodic stuff anyway. "Where Am I Going" flashed some sophisticated arrangements and tempo changes, while "The Surest Things Can Change" has a sweet, melancholy vibe that proved the Italian Stallion of the North could come across sincerely if he just went light on the syrup. Plus, he didn't skimp on the studio help; guys like Jay Graydon, Graham Lear, Ernie Watts, and Jimmy Haslip provided the instrumentation, and it showed.
Pre-fun: An e-mail from Tom in the U.K. dated 23 March 2007 with the subject: A bid on Gino Vannelli item number 21032007-61
Greeting Barend & Trees, A second e-mail from Tom in the U.K. dated 2 April 2007 with the subject: Re: A bid on Gino Vannelli item number 21032007-61
Hi Barend & Trees, 4 more days to go until Gino's London concerts!!! Cheers Tom An e-mail from Pénélope from France in French dated 4 April 2007 with the subject: LONDON
Bonsoir Barend, Bonsoir Trees, Je suis tres heureuse de voir ce concert Gino Vannelli / Michiel Borstlap , et je serais présente les 2 soirs, le 6 et 7, avec d'autres amis français. En ce moment j'ecoute davantage Canto, je suis en admiration devant la qualité de cet album. "Mala Luna", j'aime enormement ce titre, un régal ! Un jour peut etre aurais je la chance de l'entendre en direct Live ! A Londres, devinez ce que j'emmene dans mon MP3 ? Une compilation spéciale Vannelli bien sur, pourquoi se priver des bonnes choses ?
A mon retour je vous raconterai ces concerts. From French into English: Or from French into Dutch:
The Home/index web page number 1...
The Tour data and information web page...
All the Concert reviews web page...
The Vannelli/Borstlap web page...
Go to the Gino Vannelli auctions...
You are now on the Vannelli/DUO-TRIO concerts page 2...
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A very new reaction by e-mail to Dave's criticism by Terry in the USA who says she is W. from Germany??? Confused??? read this:
The concert on Saturday in the London Jazz-Café was fantastic. Gino was in a very scratchy mood and sang like an angel and devil with a collection of his dreaming ballads and furious jazzy songs as well. He was incredible. We´ve heard many old time hits and a bunch of his new songs he´s even working at. He still is working out the words of the new songs and we´re allowed to take part in that process.
hope you are both well, My name is David Bunker & I went to london jazz cafe to see the man, GIno Vannelli & I was not disappointed. Gino was absolutely awesome, the sound, his voice, the band, everything.
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