Chiho Sunamoto
September 3rd 2011
Chiho opening her concert with YOU CAN FLY from Peter Pan before launching into BEAUTIFUL DREAMER by John Wilson. Some big band music followed before we were taken to South America. Daphne & Peter Moss, Pauline & Alan Scanes and Harold and myself thoroughly enjoyed the 'Midnight Tango' show at the Cliffs Pavilion in August with Flavia Cacace and Vincent Simone from Strictly Come Dancing, from that same program Chiho played us LIBERTANGO, a true Argentinian Tango. Keith enhanced the lovely music with 'moving ray', rhythm activated shapes dancing along the back of the stage. Nice.
A green/purple background set the scene for HARRY POTTER, a Warner Bros. production, based on a fantasy novel by K.J. Rowling. Jon Smith then made an appearance on stage to play for us on his melodica, LAST OF THE SUMMERWINE, played with great feeling and expression. This was followed by a duet, AS TIME GOES BY, with Jon on his melodica and Chiho continuing on her Yamaha EL900M.
Time for a complete contrast, switching to some classical music. Chiho's favorite composer is Chopin. She delighted us with a selection of his compositions.
Chiho started to learn to play the organ at the tender age of three and added the clarinet at the age of 9. She hails from Matsuyama in Southern Japan, studied classical organ and piano and also opera singing and was one of the youngest people ever to pass her Grade 3 Yamaha Music Diploma. She has played in some 43 countries all over the world.
Alongside her EL900M, she also had the Tyros 4 on stage, the keyboard has some fantastic sounds. We enjoyed hearing Nat King Cole's NATURE BOY and ALL THE WAY. Staying on the T4, she both sang and played us COME AND FLY WITH ME, set to a blue back ground by Keith. To close the first half, there was much audience participation for the RADETSKY MARCH, which Jon conducted even without the aid of a baton.
The interval flew by with membership renewals, people enjoying refreshments and the raffle being drawn. There was a real buzz round the hall, it was time to settle down for the second half which Chiho opened with the MINUTE WALTZ by Chopin played in a jazzy style.
Appropriate colours of red and brown, yes, WINNIE THE POOH made an appearance. A blue setting once again for the PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN, a super performance of this piece of film music.
Chiho then demonstrated how the Yamaha organ sounds have evolved over the years, starting off with SO NICE, then the sound changed completely for the 1812 OUVERTURE, with a kaleidoscope of patterns in the background.
Back on the Tyros 4, Chiho had some fun singing and playing 9 MILLION BICYLES IN BEIJING, well yes, you can just imagine it, can't you? Reviving memories of Michael Jackson, a couple of his hits were next. Ah, good old Gershwin, quite right THEY CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME, with both Chiho and Jon singing. Great fun.
More memories, this time of Michel Legrand, always a good question: WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH THE REST OF YOUR LIFE played by Jon on his melodica, once again played with great feeling (we look forward to hearing him next February on the organ this time!).
More great piano sounds from Chiho on the Tyros 4, with Jon singing YOU MAKE ME FEEL SO YOUNG. Chiho jokingly said she was going to play Basildon Basildon, but instead chose Frank Sinatra's version of NEW YORK - NEW YORK.
Well, what a fantastic evening we had enjoyed, the hall full, lots of superb music and singing, thank you so much Chiho and Jon. The audience would not let them go before we had an encore, the piece appropriately entitled THAT'S ALL