JKL DUO: Kerry Lynch and Jacopo Lazzaretti 10th December 2025
How many ways are there of saying “delightful”? From how many angles can one evaluate a performance?: variety of music; technical excellence; phrasing; tuning; communication with the audience…
One surprising angle was the number of ways Kerry drew sound from her instrument: singing into it; percussive noises with the keys; sliding portamenti across the notes; not to mention blowing it in the conventional way, from whisper quiet to dramatically high and loud. Everything was complemented by the guitar, and Kerry herself responded to Jacopo’s playing in seemingly effortless ensemble. There was total control and lovely phrasing in both instruments, and this reviewer, with a flautist in his family, noted Kerry’s perfect tuning.
They sent us off happily for our interval refreshments with a reel played on the Irish Whistle.
Every item was introduced by one or other of the duo, communicating their joy in what they were about to play and enhancing our enjoyment. We heard a wide variety of types of music: inspired by Robert Burns; film music; traditional music; jazz arrangements; Latin American numbers; and finally, Christmas carols…
Suddenly the faultless tuning of the instruments was accompanied by the enthusiastic humming of audience members, some as much as a semitone flat, following a well meant invitation to join in.
Kerry and Jacopo came from Glasgow to give this concert and were rewarded with smiles and tapping feet from many audience members, as well as the warm applause. What a lovely finale to bring us up to Christmas!
Clifton Hughes