Kevin Grunhill
March 1st 2008
Kevin Grunill &
The Mighty Technics FN-3
Kevin Grunhill
Concert Pictures
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.and saying that, you expect a big opening for our show which is precisely what we got in the shape of a song made famous by Ethel Merman - Everything's Coming Up Roses - from the musical "Gypsy". Thus Kevin had set the scene with his almighty Technics FN3 organ, complete with full pedalboard. This fine instrument - only a dozen concert versions were made - is powered by internal speakers, producing some very fine sounds in the capable hands of Kevin. To follow, and in complete contrast, a tune by Neil Sedaka, not often heard, The Hungry Years.
The mirror ball created a magical effect for Pigalle - Wonderful Wonderful Day - My Heart (by Ivor Novello) & a finger exercise with Eleanora. Next a slightly uptempo Moonlight Serenade, Harry Warren's I Know Why and to finish the medley At Last.
Pretty patterns were going all round the hall to Robert Farnham's Peanut Polka. Who would have thought that Highland Cathedral had its origins in Germany? - it originally being a brass band piece - which was re-arranged for the Edinburgh Tattoo. With the "floodlights" turning green, Kevin opened very quietly before bringing the tune to the end with a tremendous crescendo.
Next one of John Philip Sousa's marches: Semper Fidelus. Surprisingly Ann & John were not on the dancefloor waltzing to Tammy - Everywhere - Ramona - No-one But You & Around The World. To bring us up to the interval a selection from Oklahoma, not often heard these days.
Refreshments over, served by the "Easter Bunnies" Joyce and Pauline, the mirrorball swung back into action to accompany Mac The Knife - It's Alright With Me & I Wanna To Be Like You. Now it was time to remember the American Civil War with the haunting Ashkovan Farewell.
Just in case anybody was feeling brassed off, we had the March Of The Cobblers before warming things up with I'm In The Mood For Love and dampening things down again with In The Cool Of The Night.
Kevin not only has a real knack of playing music which we rarely hear nowadays or making familiar music sound really fresh, he brings a tremendous amount of feeling and expression to everything he plays, thus creating a unique atmosphere for every piece or medley of music.
Kevin Grunhill is a sheer joy to listen to. This brings me to his next two numbers Till and Say It With Flowers. Blackpool is, of course, very much associated with none other than Reginald Dixon. Kevin himself has been resident organist at Blackpool for the last 10years, but is now moving onto The Flowers Of May Holiday Park in Scarborough, where he will not only be the resident organist but manager as well. This park will house Europe's largest collection of organs and steam engines, inclusive of two Wurlitzer organs plus another one from the USA, which will be the largest in Europe comprising some 4 keyboards and 40 ranks of pipes.
So without further ado we fancied nothing more then Oh I Do Like To Be The Seaside before launching into It's A Sin To Tell A Lie - I Don't Want To Set The World On Fire - Run Rabbit Run - A Lassie From Lancashire & Has Anybody Seen My Girl? - Time to take in a show or to, what a treat we had with I'm Getting Married In The Morning - The Sound Of Music - I Can't Help Loving Dat Man - Phantom Of The Opera and to finish this super medley The Music Of The Night, with an appropriate blue background courtesy of Keith.
A very enthusiastic audience showed their appreciation for this very fine musician and the obligatory Basildon encore was due. The rags are not easy to tell apart, but I believe we had the Tiger Rag for the encore.
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.