Report by: Brian McMillan

Perfomer: Brian Sharp
Instrument: Orla GT3000 plus keyboards

On Thursday Evening February 12th - International Organist and Top On Thursday Evening March 11th - one the most popular entertainers on the Organist circuit - Brian Sharp came to our Club and provided a great evening with a super concert. There were many new faces in the audience confirming the interest in the top players.

Brian was another entertainer visiting our club after many years away and his performance showed us what we had been missing. He started the show with three bright marches dedicated to each of the three services: Army, Navy and Air Force: brilliantly played with arms whirling around the keyboards in typical theatre organ style.

The variation of sounds throughout the concert was made possible with the addition of two Roland keyboards supplementing the Orla GT3000: one providing the backings for most of the pieces, and the other adding a third keyboard to the organ. This gave added variety to solo voices and 'brass stabs' and runs throughout the performance.

The whole concert was fast moving and consisted of all types of music. Notable pieces were a nice Big Band Medley - once again featuring the Roland keyboard with In The Mood, a selection of Strauss waltzes and an excellent rendition of Onward Christian Soldiers which really built up as it went along.

There was The Wind Beneath My Wings, Avalon, a selection of foxtrots (where one or two of the audience admitted to wanting to get up and dance), a Latin American medley (just tapping of feet there!). Also a very big sound with the 2001 Space Oddessey and a lovely performance of 'Meditation' by Thais.

The evening passed very quickly and from the comments made to me as the audience left the hall, they had a great time. I think I will also remember the evening as one where I found it difficult to get people to admit they held a winning raffle ticket. Quite bizarre!

Our next concert is on 8th April with Martin Atterbury entertaining us on the Roland AT70. I look forward to that and to meeting you all there.

March 2004 Concert Report
Report by: Andrew Hearne

On Thursday March 11th - International Organist and Top Entertainer - Brian Sharp visited our Club to give what turned out to be another great concert - a big turnout as well.

Brian was performing on the Orla GT3000 organ and with two Roland keyboards. It was amazing to hear him play four at once and the sounds were incredible

A mixture of of Marches to start followed by Ballads and Jazz music. The theme from 2001 A Space Oddesey followed later as Brian was demonstrating how he used the percussion on the keyboards.

Later on Brian was talking about some CDs he had done and some upcoming events plus some things about himself which people seemed to be really interested about.

During interval the raffle was on as normal and I was on hand if anyone wanted to see the website demo.

During the second half, a mixture of ballads again, Jazz organ music and a Swing medley - with In The Mood and some other ones

Overall a great concert, and I'm sure he'll be welcomed back for another one

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