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 April 2018 Andrew Nix
Another good concert with our Artiste for the night Andrew Nix. The audience numbers for the evening were disappointing perhaps due to another event, Seacroft. It was also the first night for the club renewals for 2018 – 2019.
True to the character portrayed in descriptive comments about Andrew, he did have a true Yorkshire sense of humour very much in evidence throughout the evening. We enjoyed a ‘two for the price of one’ evening with Andrew as both keyboard musician and comedian. Some of the music we herd included. With sword and lance, a buddy holiday medley, a medley of traditional Irish songs, When Irish eyes are smiling, Fire Dance, and an Irish gig. Then there was you, a Sigmund Romberg Medley, Music Box Dancer, Pretty Face Polka, and the Lambeth Walk. After the interval we heard the Beer barrel polka, Roll out the barrel, Good Morning Good Morning, Somewhere over the rainbow, wedding of the painted doll, Impossible dream, A Beatles medley including Money cant by you love, Yesterday, Hey Jude, then Fly me to the Moon and finally a Dixieland medley. There were calls from the audience for even more and so on the spot of the moment Andrew produced a medley of snippets from many other well known tunes. In all a very good evening.
Andrew’s instrument was a Roland Atelier
Posted in Concert Review Tagged with: Andrew Nix, BOKC, brentwood, Brentwood organ and keyboard, concert, Live music, mountnessing
Concert Review 23rd October 2017 – Rod Pooley
The evenings were drawing in, how fast the year is passing. Our guest for the evening was Rod Pooley. He opened with a sense of humour that continued throughout. “It was good to be back in Essex after such a long time… and the only way is??” Of course many replied “ESSEX…” He was, he thought a young man when last he performed for us, there was a bit of friendly banter between him and our booking secretary about how he came to be overlooked for so long and then the concert began with, ‘windmills of your mind’. Followed by “Charlie Chan”. Between each piece thereafter Rod continued with his humour which never failed to raise a laugh, he was himself the brunt of much of it. We listened to the realistic sound of ‘the big band’, ‘orchestras’ film music and much more. Some titles from the evening were, ‘O Mio Bambino Caro’, ‘Whiter Shade of Pale’ ‘All I ask of you’ and ‘Home’ by Michael Bublé. The evening was very well received by all with much applause. Rod commented that he hoped he wouldn’t need to wait another 14 years to be asked back again.
I am informed that, for those who like to know these things…
The instrument that Rod was using was the TRX Organ system based on Yamaha Tyros 5 with Hammond pedals.
Posted in Concert Review Tagged with: A concert – The Organist Entertains, BOKC, bokc.BOKC, brentwood, brentwood organ, Brentwood Organ Keyboard club, concert, Essex, keyboard, Live music, mountnessing, Rod Pooley
