Ian House

April 3^rd 2010
Roalnd Atelier AT900C

At the BKC, we try to bring you new faces, as we call them, although this young man will be familiar to those who heard him play at the end of the Electone Festival some 18th months ago and also at the Lyme Bay Festivals. There have been changes since we booked him. He no longer lives in Bristol where he worked for Swift Music; but now resides in a 3rd floor flat in Eastbourne, employed by Messrs. Bonner. This also meant a change of instrument; he now has a Yamaha set up - a second keyboard and a pedalboard midied to a Tyros 2 to complete the 'outfit'.

Giving us a superb view was our Pete displaying his skills on two screens, allowing us to watch both Ian's finger~ and pedalwork simultaneously some of the time.

Ian opened his program with Can't Take My Eyes Off You featuring organ and big band and guitar sounds, which Keith set to a red/cerise background. Slowing the tempo down, we had a lovely ballad made famous by Frank Sinatra That's All with a beautiful breathy sax.

You could almost see the flames "licking" for Blaze Away before reds and greens set the scene for Poinciana, firstly showing off those lush strings before a very clever change to big band sounds and appropriate rhythm. The next piece was played with no rhythm at all and featured one of Ian's favourite voice, the oh so authentic trumpet for Send In The Clowns, easing off with some harp sounds at the end of the piece, magic.

Ian has only had his keyboard setup for a few months, having played the Atelier organ before. However, he wanted us to hear the Hammond sounds for It's De-Lovely and A Foggy Day. Blue was just the right setting for Enya's Watermark, gorgeous piano sounds with added strings and choirvoices. Really lovely.

A kaleidoscope of shapes plus big band sounds for Come Fly With Me. Paying tribute to Michael Jackson and yes, his then rat, we heard Ben before concluding the first half with some nifty fingerwork and accordion sounds for Bel Viso.

The "Easter bunnies" having served us refreshments and the raffle drawn, inclusive of a huge Easter chick, we settled down to some calming blues for Conquest of Paradise, a favourite for many of us. The trumpet once again eased us into Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered, before Ian brought in a slow ballad rhythm.

I don't think we have heard the Rodeo March by Harry Ramsey before. With Ian's mind suddenly going blank, I managed to remind him, much to the amusement of the audience, that it was time for a bossa and Desafinado next! As a youngster (he's still only 20), Ian played as a drummer with the next door neighbour conductor of a brass band asking him to join same. The piece he played for us was the Toy Trumpet.

Some "rustic chivalry" was not at all amiss, or rather the intermezzo from Cavellerina Rusticana, once again featuring those rich orchestral sounds, great. The music for the following piece was put in front of Ian by his then musicteacher, talk about a finger exercise, yes, it was the Dance Of The Comedians.

The stage almost blacked out with just a touch of green round the mirror and instruments, Somewhere Out There with some panpipes and Kenny G sax sounds to the fore.

What a great evening we had had from this talented young man. The audience demanded the traditional Basildon encore, Ian happily obliging with Canadian Capers. Thanks Ian for some great music, we look forward to welcoming you back.