Chris Powell in posing mode
Chris Powell
March 5th 2005
Chris Powell Concert Pictures
Click for bigger picture
Chris, in a red sparkling jacket, set the scene to warm us as he opened the concert with a rousing rendition of the 'March Of The Cobblers' - 'Colonel Bogey' and with Blackpool sounds 'Blaze Away'. Then we had 'Ghostriders In The Sky', before Chris belatedly celebrated James Lasts' recent 75th Birthday with 'Games That Lovers Play' - 'La Cucaracha' & a very haunting 'Lonely Shepherd', I must mention the beautiful panflute and the guitar arpeggios in the left hand.
For those who like to trip the light fantastic there was 'Let's Face The Music & Dance' - 'Honeysuckle Rose' - 'American Petrol' and 'Mr. Sandman'. Sarah Brightman and Andrea Bocelli made a superb recording of 'Time To Say Goodbye' (no Chris wasn't leaving just yet!), however he continued to spend 'Zwei Naechte In Einer Grossen Stadt' - perhaps he was thinking of the time in Hamburg where Harold and I bumped into him and Marie a few years ago? Next we heard Gershwin's 'Only For You' before concluding this medley with 'I Know Why' In Glenn Miller Style.
With Reginald Dixon's 100th Birthday last year, Chris paid his own tribute with 'I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside' - 'Whispering' - 'Ma, He's Making Eyes At Me' - 'Tammy' - 'Someone To Watch Over Me' - 'Happiness' - 'Sidesaddle' & to finish off the 'Black & White Rag'.
Taking us to warmer climes it was time to shout
Chris, now sporting a silver jacket, was playing the new Atelier AT80SL, the second half getting under way with thoughts of spring: the 'Bluebell Polka' followed by the 'Clarinet Polka'.
After some 30 years, ABBA's music is still popular to this day, giving us the chance to enjoy the 'Dancing Queen' - 'Money Money Money' - 'The Winner Takes It All' before saying 'Thank You For The Music'.
Club chairman John has twirled Ann round the Blackpool Tower Ballroom a few times, hence the Latin medley of sambas 'Lonely Heart' - 'Blue Spanish Eyes' - 'Love Is In The Air', the 'Mambo Jambo' - 'I Love You & Don't You Forget It' & 'Carioca' was dedicated to them.
After a mere two months we were once again being taken back to Vienna to enjoy 'Roses From The South' - 'The Merry Widow Waltz' before whiling time away on the 'Blue Danube'.
Luckily it was too cold for anyone present to part with any of their lingerie - as has happened when a certain Welshman appeared on stage! Three of Tom Jones' hits followed: 'It's Unusual' - 'The Green Green Grass of Home' and 'Delilah'.
Time does fly when you enjoy yourself, so to finish off his concert Chris took us back to Blackpool once again with another Reg Dixon tribute: ''My Old Man Said Follow The Van' - 'Four Leaf Clover' - 'If I Knew Suzie' - 'Now Is The Hour' 'Bless 'em All' - 'Daisy Daisy''- and the 'Tiger Rag'.
We'd had a splendid evenings entertainment with a newly styled concert from Chris.
Why not come along to a Basildon Keyboard Club Concert, you will be made very welcome, have a great evenings entertainment, a complimentary cup of tea or coffee with biscuits and of course experience the delights of live music played on top of the range electronic organs & keyboards by the best players.