June 2003 Charity concert

Due to the Spring Bank Holidays and exams, our Charity Concert finally took place on the night of the Summer Solstice. All the participants practiced very hard for this evening.
The charity nominated to receive any profit from this concert is Whizz-Kidz a charity dedicated to giving non-mobile children the ability to get around without assistance.

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Our chairman, John Jackaman made his second appearance, this time on his newly acquired Wersi Abacus. His program kicked off with a lively jive for "Any Dream Will Do" before taking the audience to Ireland for an "Irish Wedding" & to see (or hear!) the "Mountains Of Mourne". He continued with "Solitaire", or as John put it 'my version of Tony Back's arrangement'! Appropriately he followed with "Summertime" set to a slow Bossa, before livening things up again with a Rock'n'Roll number "Teddybear" and to finish his program "Telstar". Well done Mr. Chairman.

Martin Moss participated for the first time in one of our charity concerts, splendidly attired in his silver scrolled waistcoat playing his Yamaha PSR 2000. He began with a lively Dixieland number "Who", before showing off the Big Band sounds with "Fly Me To The Moon". The Tapdance Swing rhythm was just right for "Singing In The Rain". Then we heard "Moonglow" and a very Spanish rendition of "Lady Of Spain". This Martin followed with "Witchcraft" and "Sway". "Love Is A Many Splendoured Thing" was set to the lovely Movie Ballad rhythm, before finishing off with a realistic Wild West version of "Ghostriders In The Sky". A very nice program, many thanks Martin.

For the second time we welcomed our Accordion Players Rita & Bob Williams. Their opening medley was "Who Were You With Last Night?" - "Don't Dilly On The Way" & "Hello, Hello Who's Your Ladyfriend?" before asking, "Who's Sorry Now?" A lovely rendition of "Chanson D'Amour' followed before declaring "Ma, He's Making Eyes At Me!" Rita tells me this title does not apply to them: "Crazy"!, before playing "Make Yourself At Home", then it was time to "Roll Out The Barrel" and ask "Are You Lonesome Tonight?" They followed this with "On Mother Kelley's Doorstep" before finishing their program with a lively March "Alte Kameraden." Many thanks Rita & Bob, a great way to finish off the first half.

Once again Reg Kay, also in a waistcoat, opened the second half playing his Technics KN6000 with the "Lady Is A Tramp", using the lovely Doodah voices. The next two numbers were set to a gentle 8 beat "Love Me With All Your Heart" (lovely Saxophone) and "Wind Beneath My Wings", showing o the guitar sounds. He followed this with one of Terry Garrod's waltzes "Yesterday's Lovers". "Memories" from the show 'Cats' was next before launching into a slow and smoochy number with "The Nearness Of You". To close his program, we were treated to some great Big Band sounds with "My Foolish Heart". Well done Reg.

Alan Gwynell is a seasoned performer in our charity concerts. Playing his Gem4K he opened his program with an old favorite "Moonlight In Vermont", followed by a number we rarely hear "Ev'ry Street Is A Boulevard". With a quick hop across the Channel we were "Under The Roofs Of Paris" and heard the "Umbrella Man", using a nice Musette sound and including some authentic raindrops! "Folks On The Hill" & "All The Things You Are" followed, before launching into that lovely Bossa "If Ever I Would Leave You". "Alone In The World" was taken from the film 'The Russian House', before concluding his stint with a very lively rendition of "That's Entertainment". Well done Alan.

Last but not least we welcomed Joyce Robertson on her Technics KN2000 accompanying singer Tom Wallace. They opened with "Hello Dolly" & "Sweet Caroline", the latter set to a lively Disco beat. Off to Italy to waltz to "Sorrento", using a nice accordion. This they followed with "I Can See Clearly Now" and "Georgia", played in Blues Style. A Frankie Lane number next "Gonna Live Till I Die", played in a Spanish Style with some nice trumpet sounds. Two lively Frank Sinatra numbers were to follow "New York, New York" & "Walking My Baby Back Home". Their lovely program concluded with "I've Got You Under My Skin". Many thanks Joyce & Tom for finishing off the second half in your inimitable style.

With that it was time to welcome the other artists back onto the stage for the encore, a rousing rendition of "Wish Me Luck" was played and sung. My thanks to the performers for all their hard work prior to the charity concert, also to Keith who once again did a splendid job with the lights and also to Eileen who secured the dayroom at St. Gabriel's Court for the last two rehearsals.

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.