Micheal McAneny

Michael McAneny

August 4^th 2007

Michael McAneny began his program with a selection of quicksteps, i.e. Boo Hoo & When I Take My Sugar To Tea, before slowing the tempo with a piece of music usually heard before the shipping forecast late at night: Sailing Bye, then upping the tempo once again with the Black & White Rag.

As the sky darkened outside, I am sure we could see some Moonglow creating a romantic atmosphere for When You Tell Me That You Love Me, made famous by none other than Diana Ross. Time to go to the ballet and enjoy the Sleeping Beauty Waltz by Tchaikovsky.

Michael was playing a Yamaha EL90 and had also brought his Yamaha Motif 8 piano with him. However, for the next number we were treated to some organ sounds for By A Waterfall by Busby Berkeley. Marches are always popular; we had the Double Eagle before switching to some Latin music with a very nice rendition of More - this time with Hammond sounds.

Some piano music on the Motif8 next in the shape of the Bagatelle in Gm (which was his grade 5 exam piece). Talking about an exgirlfriend who left, we heard Without Saying Goodbye and for good measure Two Lovely Black Eyes!

Some Big Band sounds next with Don't Blame Me before playing us Bach's Prelude in Gm and the renowned Radetsky March. To bring us up to the half way mark Has Anybody Seen My Girl? - I'll See You In My Dreams - I Can't Give You Anything But Love & I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside (yes, it took me one hour to drive from Basildon to Southend the next day!!!).

The second half began on the piano with the Boogey Woogey and another march, the RAF March past and very appropriately followed by Elgar's Nimrod, an arrangement by John Beeseley who sadly left the organ circuit some time ago.

A Russian Rag followed next before going back to the piano with a Bette Midler number Wind Beneath My Wings, Beethoven's For Elise very cleverly interspersed with My Old Man's A Dustman!! A little Frence piece next in the shape of Une Petite Fleur (one of Michael's favourites), before continuing with John Holland's Birthday Wish and a good finger exercise Nola.

Michael also played Happy Birthday for me and himself for our respective birthdays on the 6th & 10th of August. An all time favourite came next with The Lady Is A Tramp before continuing with a James Last number which we seldom get to hear Close Your Eyes.

Scott Joplin music is much enjoyed by folk, we had the Elite Syncopations. Back to the seaside, on the piano, with Misty before playing us that much loved Bossa Nova Wave for which he chose Hammond Organ sounds once more.

It may have been his first visit, but the audience still wanted an encore, Michael chose accordion sounds for the Bluebell Polka by Jimmy Shand.

Michael will definitely be back, as the audience very much enjoyed his playing and also his very dry, self depreciating sense of humour. Good to see his Mum Moira again and friend Gordon. No, I have not forgotten Keith. We had just a plain background of curtains this time which Keith enhanced with his supreme lighting skills throughout the evening, choosing colours appropriate to the music.

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.