Simon Smith

June 4^th 2005

It was an absolute pleasure to meet Simon Smith and his parents for the first time. Whilst the stage is being set up there is usually time for a coffee/tea and chat to get to know one another. With this a buzz of excitement started to stir, thinking we would be enjoying a very good concert indeed and so it proved to be.
Our chairman looked resplendent in his white Tuxedo, likewise Simon who, apart from his parents, had brought another guest, namely 'Elvis Grisley'. Which takes us nicely into the opening number of the concert with 'Simon Smith & His Amazing Dancing Bear', with Elvis performing his little routine atop of one of the loudspeakers. Some Big Band music to follow with 'The Birth Of The Blues' achieving some superb vibrato effects by 'bending' the keys. Whilst on the band theme, some American Military Band sounds with the 'Stars & Stripes March'.
It's always very refreshing to hear some new material, this time 'The Closest Thing To Crazy' by Katie Melua, who you may remember if you watched the VE Celebration Concert on TV at the beginning of May. With the Forties in mind, some very authentic Glenn Miller sounds in the shape of 'American Patrol'.
Keith produced some very colourful shapes from his box of tricks to enhance a lovely rendition of 'It Had To Be You', before Simon continued with the Bohemian Rhapsody made famous by the late Freddie Mercury of Queen. James Last has long been a household name; yet we don't often hear 'Grenada', showing off the beautiful Tijuana Brass sounds on his Yamaha El900 organ, also a nice guitar solo plus some excellent pedalwork.
A further two pieces of music to take us up to the teabreak, first of all the ever popular 'Concerto d'Aranjuez' and secondly a very lively rendition of 'Sweet Georgian Brown'.
Tim Flint, eat your heart out; Simon appeared for the second half wearing a gold sparkling jacket underneath which he sported a black & white waistcoat enhanced by some fine gold embroidery. Very smart!
Opening up this time with some lively medleys, first of all 'I Don't Love You No More' & 'Sweet Sixteen', followed by 'Melancholy Baby' - 'Hello Dolly' -' How High The Moon & Bimbo'. Elvis Presley made an appearance with 'Suspicious Minds' before Simon launched into a couple of waltzes, namely 'Are You Lonesome Tonight?' & True Love'.
We'd been party to some Irish jokes, so in the way of appeasement we had some audience participation with three verses of the 'Wild Rover'. We were then entertained with some very fine orchestral Italian classical music which was out of this world.
Time for the Dancing Bear to do his bit again, this time to some Latin music in the shape of a couple of cha cha's 'Sway & Perfidia' with some rhythm activated shapes in the background. A superb blend of registrations took us back to the Seventies with ABBA: 'I Have A Dream' - 'Mamma Mia' & 'Gimme Gimme Gimme'. A Ray Noble Big Band Number next, 'Cherokee' which he followed with what must have been the most beautiful rendition that I have ever heard played on an organ with Gershwin's 'Rhapsody In Blue'.
The audience would not let him go before he had satisfied Basildon tradition with an encore, for which he chose 'New York New York'.
We'd had a thoroughly nice young man on stage who is extremely enthusiastic about his work, who knows "how to make music"! He really makes the woodwind instruments on the organ breathe, and I must point out his very fine pedalwork.
He is a very fine player - his private and public concert schedule shows his popularity.
Simon has also produced audio CD's for those of us who want to get more out of our instruments, i.e. the Tyros, the Clavinova Range and the Yamaha PSR range. The instructions are easy to follow - well worth purchasing. Thank you Simon for a smashing evening, we look forward to welcoming you to Basildon again.

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.