Alastair Kiernan
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Alastair Kiernan
October 7th 2006
Alastair Kiernan
Concert Pictures
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Alastair last played for us in February 2004 and kindly stepped in for our October concert to take the place of Rod Pooley, who is no longer playing on the circuit. Alastair brought with him his old and trusted Yamaha HX1 to which he has now added the Tyros 2.
Those of you who have attended one of Alastairs concerts before will know that you get a great deal of music and very little chat. He launched into his program with That's Entertainment - Everything's Coming Up Roses - No Business Like Show business & I Am What I Am. Like it or not, autumn is here, Autumn Leaves & Lullaby Of The Leaves were both set to an 'autumnal' coloured background with swirling leaves by Keith.
The Hungarian style Czardas by the Italian composer Vittorio Monti (1868-1922) was next, beautifully played 'on the violin' without any rhythm. A blue background set the stage for My Blue Heaven - Bye Bye Blues & Birth Of The Blues, also Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart and one of the well known 'Rags'. Consuelo Velazquez was a Mexican song writer, she wrote the 1940's hit Besame Mucho, which Alastair played to us using piano and trumpet sounds. This was followed by You Belong To Me and Transatlantic Lullaby with swirling white shapes in the background.
Some Latin music with Copacabana, a huge hit for Barry Manilow in the 70's, followed by the very lively El Cumbanchero - this was enough to make the bubble machine spurt into action! Highland Cathedral with an unmistakable Celtic influence was the title of a CD by Phil Coulter back in 2000; Alastair gave a very impressive rendition of this beautiful tune.
You could almost hear the rain drop lets! with Misty, played as a ballad whilst setting Crazy to a slow rhythm. Alastair's fingers can move across the organ at an amazing speed, aptly demonstrated by Holiday For Strings.
Glenn Miller's Moonlight Serenade enabled him to slow down a bit as did Hoagy Carmichael's Stardust which did not become a hit until the band leader Isham Jones slowed the original up tempo number down to show off its dreamy romantic qualities. To close the first half, we were entertained with the Peanut Polka & Sacred Heart with lots of pipes and choirs, set to a dark red backdrop and to finish off a rousing rendition of the Dambusters March.
Following refreshments and the raffle, Alastair launched into the second half of the program with Colonel Bogey & The Sailor's Hornpipe. True Love & Now Is The Time, in waltz time of course, followed by the very lively Sabre Dance from Khachaturian's ballet Gayane, representing a whirling Kurdish war dance, the dancers displaying their skill with sabres. It wasn't quite Time To Say Goodbye yet (sung by Sarah Brightman & Andrea Bocelli), before we heard the equally lovely I Can Dream, Can't I? by Sammy Fain.
Some French flavors and accordion sounds for, amongst others, Paris Skies - I Love Paris and the Can Can. The bubble machine sprang into action once more for the uptempo You Started Something - Fools Rush In - YMCA & Abba's Dancing Queen. The Nearness Of You is a lovely tune with equally lovely lyrics for the romantic ally inclined.
There was plenty of audience participation and foot tapping for Five Foot Two - Eyes Of Blue - Sweet Georgia Brown - Happy Feet & The Charleston - absolutely brilliant.
To close his concert Alastair chose Keep On Till The End Of The Road - Gay Gordons - Charlie Is My Darling - You Take The High Road & I Take The Low Road - Amazing Grace & I'll Be Seeing You.
Not even Alastair gets away without the Basildon encore, The Stripper made a musical appearance and to finally close the evening the legendary We'll Meet Again.
We really enjoyed an evening of highly entertaining music, brilliantly played by Alastair who is not only an organist, but also a pilot apart from being a family man.
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.