Budapest Cafe Orchestra 

Review by Ginevra House

Already old friends to this part of the Highlands, the Budapest Cafe Orchestra returned to Poolewe on June 1 for a rousing gig in the Village Hall. Packed to the rafters, extra chairs were being set out as the doors closed, but everyone managed to squeeze in.

Led by the ever-entertaining frontman and violinist Christian Garrick, the evening included a heady mix of Balkan-inspired takes on a dizzying array of works, from ‘highlights’ of Rachmaninov’s Piano Concerto No. 2 reimagined for accordion (played by with effortless flair by Eddie Hession), to ‘that tune from Pulp Fiction’ (the Greek folk song Misirlou, featuring saz and guitar virtuoso Adrian Zolotuhin).

The insouciance of French café jazz was manifested in medleys that careened through old favourites such as Hey Bo Didly, Nancy Sinatra’s Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down), and Vaughan- Williams’s Lark Ascending alongside rousing gypsy-style Hungarian folk tunes in 7/8. I’m fairly sure the Paddington theme tune made an appearance at some point.

Particularly well received (based on people’s comments in the interval) was the Highland tune The Maid on the Sheiling, a delicate start with a slow build to a luscious, dense rendition.

But it was the on-stage atmosphere of musical playfulness that captivated the crowd – letting the audience in on musical jokes between the players; challenging each other to improvisation duels; and turning every gesture, even the rosin-ing of a bow, into a performance.

Special mention must go to the secret stars of the show – the lampshades. If that leaves you wondering, all I can say is: make sure you book your tickets when they come back next year!