Paul Carmen
Paul Carmen
August 7th 2010
Orla
The weather didn't dampen our spirits and Paul lifted them very nicely by starting with a medley of Latin samba's including Quando, quando and Brazil. Wearing a smart black suit Paul continued in theatre style with his arrangement of Matt Munro's Portrait of my Love.
Playing the very latest Orla Compact organ, Paul also employs a Black Box of tricks to provide some extra accompaniment where appropriate. Brian Sharp has been inspirational and a good friend with Paul for many years so in Brian Sharp style, Paul played us a medley starting with 'More', using a wave-bossa rhythm with a fantastic starburst backdrop provided by Keith and his hi-tec gadgetry. In the same vein we heard As Time Goes By played with Hammond Organ registration.
To a lovely blue-green backdrop Paul played Moon River using a slow waltz. Next up was Birth of the Blues with jazz organ. The ol' Blue Eyes standard All the Way followed, using trumpet and piano, nice. To the appropriate background we heard Deep Purple with jazz piano plus draw bar sounds.
With the backdrop now fading to a super blue we heard Blue Moon complete with a hazy looking moon. Next, with a myriad of stars flashing behind him, Paul played Disney's haunting number When You Wish Upon a Star using a very nice Blackpool Organ sound.
For the next song,. You Raise Me Up with breathy clarinet, strings and piano. All too soon we were nearly at the halfway point and Paul turned to the Orla to give us the Carpenters number 'Top of The World'. Following refreshments and the raffle, Paul continued with a selection of quick-steps using draw bars. Tie a Yellow Ribbon and Snowbird played to a star-studded yellow sky was followed by Misty, a Johnny Mathis standard using strings and late-night sax registration.
Now for some rock and roll said Paul so out with his guitar, Paul sang for us the old Elvis classic Blue Suede Shoes. Using a variation of styles, Paul returned to the organ to play a medley including Around the World played using accordion sounds. Battle Hymn of the Republic or 'John Brown's Body' was next. Amazing Grace and Besame Mucho using Hammond Organ sounds followed, then the theme from the God-Father using voices and the balalaika. A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square to a big band sound came next. We heard the haunting Rodriguez Guitar Concerto followed by All of Me and then Your Cheating Heart. Ron Goodwin's stirring march '633 Squadron' came next with Keith providing star-bursts. For a change in mood we heard The Way We Were a number made popular by Barbra Streisand, played to a lovely slow bossa.
Returning to the guitar Paul sang Three Steps to Heaven. Frank Sinatra's My Way came next with piano, pan pipes and strings.
With the concert now rapidly drawing to a close, Paul played his final number. A song written by Charlie Chaplin and often sung by Nat 'King' Cole entitled Smile. So with a lovely clarinet, strings and piano Paul rounded off a very entertaining evening.