Concert Review 15th April 2019 – Peter Shaw
A low turnout audience of forty seven at Mountnessing Hall for Peter Shaw’s performance. Peter had withdrawn from performing and it had been some years since he visited us, those club members who were unable to attend his concert this time missed a quite entertaining evening from an accomplished performer. Peter has a surprisingly youthful voice and during the evening used it singing a well applauded version of ‘This is the moment’ and Burt Baccarat’s ‘The look of love’. His performance at the keyboard included many styles and favourites. It must be said that he has returned to public performance with a very listenable repertoire.
Some of the music played by Peter included;
A little night music, send in the clowns, Burt Baccarat’s The look of Love, we heard a thirty minute medley of assorted musicales and films such as; jungle book, Pinocchio-when you wish upon a star, Chity Chity bang bang including ‘supercalifragilisticexpialidocious’ and many others. Other film music included, Life is a Cabaret, Singing in the rain, I could have danced all night, On the street where I live, wouldn’t it be lovely, Get me to the church on time, Many ABBA songs, Andrew Lloyd Webber musicales including; Les Miserables, Phantom, Joseph and more. Music from Westside story.
After the interval there was; Bye Bye Blackbird, American Patrol and many other tunes to compile a Big Band medley. A personal tribute to the late Chiho Sunamoto of Gabriel’s Oboe. When my little girl is Smiling from the Drifters. Julio Iglesias ‘Hey’ Shubert’s Ave Maria. A Jazz medley, Frank Sinatra medley. Tribute to Alan Haven. An energetic series of March themes including, Thunderbirds, The Battle of Britain, 633 Sqn and the Dam busters.
Peter was recalled for the encore for which he chose ‘When you’re are smiling’.
Posted in Concert Review Tagged with: BOKC, Brentwood Organ Keyboard club, Live music, mountnessing, Peter Shaw, steve morl
Concert Review 25th February 2019 Paul Carman
Paul Carman – A concert performance that didn’t disappoint. At the start of the evening, as visitors came through the door, conversations were about how entertaining a recent Paul Carman concert had been. It was soon apparent the performance would be well attended.
Paul proved to be most entertaining. We expect our attending artists to be accomplished musicians, and they are, but Paul also brought with him a great sense of humour worthy of any stand-up comedian. When he wasn’t playing his music or making us laugh he was singing to us. Most should agree Paul gave us good entertainment to remember.
Paul’s instrument.
Korg Pa4X, In split mode with pedalboard –
Proving that a modern keyboard can successfully replace a two manual organ.
Posted in Concert Review Tagged with: A concert – The Organist Entertains, BOKC, brentwood, brentwood organ, Brentwood Organ Keyboard club, concert, Live music, Paul Carman, steve morl
Concert 25th January 2019 – Elizabeth Harrison
It was a cold winter’s night not at all like the last time we were visited by Elizabeth on a warm summer’s night in 2017. Our January night concert was attended by an audience of 54. Elizabeth began by introducing herself as a farmer, a driver of big machines and goods vehicles. We learned about Cows, how they order themselves singularly for milking and we learned that Elizabeth and her boyfriend, also a farmer, whom previously we heard about in 2017, were no longer 26 miles apart…? This brought an amused chuckle from the audience. The evening was to be punctuated by her delightful and light sense of humour delivered with an accent that somehow seemed so right for a farmer. And so the music started for an audience already amused. Unusually, Elizabeth performed facing us; throughout the evening she punctuated her performance with facial expressions that were themselves quite entertaining.
As before her music was silky smooth. Elizabeth is an accomplished entertainer with a performance repertoire that included something for everyone. Amongst the evenings music were the following; A selection of waltzes, Housewives choice, Blaze away, Pack up your troubles, when you’re smiling, Run rabbit Run, My old man said follow the van, Hello Dolly, A selection of Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals, Non Stop – original ITN news theme,
Contemplating & Remember Chiho Sunamoto, Elizabeth dedicated and played – If I loved you
Elizabeth continued with, When Irish eyes are smiling, A selection of Scottish themes, Runaway, Prelude in a classic style, From Nicholas & Alexandra ‘to beautiful to last, Here in my heart, I could have danced all night, we’ll meet again. Elizabeth was re-called for an encore, The theme from the Battle of Britain Film concluding the evening to rapturous applause.
Elizabeth’s instrument was a Roland AT350C Dual Keyboard and pedals, plus the new Theatre Organ in a box V3
Posted in Concert Review Tagged with: A concert - The Organist Entertains, BOKC, brentwood organ, Brentwood Organ Keyboard club, concert, Elizabeth Harrison, Live music, mountnessing
Concert Review – 26th November 2018 – Steve Allison
Sadly due to the untimely passing of Chiho Sunamoto the club was at a loss for an artiste to perform at our concert of the 26th November until Steve Allison revealed that he was available for the evening.
Steve gave us a night of music that was distinctly his own. Very much he seemed to favour ‘marches’ and if you were a lover of this style then it would have been your night. There was though variety but each segment of the evening contained music that Steve had no doubt deliberately grouped, due to perhaps, being able to maintain a tempo or backing. However the evening contained music that at some point would have appealed to all. Without him we would have been turning all away at the door. So a big thank you to Steve for entertaining us for the evening.
Some of the music we heard included.
A medley to commemorate WW1 The songs of the troops. ‘If’, A quick step medley in the style of the tower ballroom. One moment in time, A selection of ‘Spanish holiday music’ Angel in blue,. Misty, Unforgettable, Games lovers play. Barbaretta march, (Bridge to far) A selection of waltz’s, A samba, Oh my beloved father, Theme from the battle of Britain, aces high, Every thing I do, Solitaire.
Steve was recalled to provide an encore for which he produced a medley music in an ‘Um- Pah’ style.
All in all . Our thanks to Steve who rescued the evening.
Posted in Concert Review Tagged with: A concert – The Organist Entertains, BOKC, brentwood, brentwood organ, Brentwood Organ Keyboard club, concert, Live music, mountnessing, Steve Allison
Chiho Sunamoto
Sadly we learn of the untimely passing of Chiho Sunamoto after an inspirational personal fight with a long term illness. Many amongst her audiences will have been oblivious to her poor health as despite those health issues she continued to provide first class keyboard performances along with her husband John.
Chiho would have been our artist for 26th Nov 2018 and as a club we will hold her in thought at that evening’s concert.
Our condolences and expression of sympathy go out to her husband John and all her family facing this tragedy together.
Posted in News Tagged with: A concert - The Organist Entertains, BOKC, brentwood, brentwood organ, Brentwood Organ Keyboard club, Chiho, Chiho Sunamoto, Chiho Sunamoto died, Chiho Sunamoto dies, concert, mountnessing, Sunamoto
Concert review 23rd July 2018 Brett Wales
The long hot dry summer of 2018 continued, Brett Wales our musician for the evening was greeted on stage by an audience of 36 Members and 15 guests. Brett who travelled down from Nottingham introduced himself and with a laugh and a joke set about producing an evening of music worthy of a much larger audience. The performance was full, lively and encompassed many styles. Performers like to turn themselves out attired to impress. Brett played the first half of the concert wearing a dark shirt light jacket and with his hair swept and tied back, he immerged after the interval to whistles cheers and other applause. There was Brett in a flamboyant move suit and a crimson tie, quite a surprise. After the performance ended Brett was of course recalled for an encore itself a medley all received to great applause. Brett’s instrument – a Wersi sonic. Some of the evening’s music -Gladiator, On a street where I live, when your smiling, How can you mend a broken heart (BG’s), Blanket on the ground, Intermezzo (Cavalier Rusticana), Day by Day, A Helios organ tribute, ABBA medley, I left my heart in San Francisco, Pirates of the Caribbean (Zimmer), the lady and the tramp. Interval This old house, River dance Ballet, ToTo Africa, Bohemian rhapsody (Queen), In a Persian Market (Albert Ketelbly), William Tell (Rossini), Fulsome Prison Blues (Johnny Cash), Sound of silence (Simon and Garfunkel), I can’t help falling in love with you, One moment in time (Whitney Houston), Equinox (Jean-Michel-Jarre) He’ll be coming round the mountain, Encore – A medley!
Posted in Concert Review Tagged with: A concert - The Organist Entertains, BOKC, brentwood, Brentwood Organ Keyboard club, Brett Wales, Live music, mountnessing
