Our September Concert
At our September concert, we started the evening with Colin Ensor playing Reine De Musette, Music Maestro Please, Pigalle and Sweetheart Of All My Dreams. Basil Berry was next, playing Stardust, Skylark, My Resistance Is Low and Two Sleepy People. To lead us up to our guest artist spot, Tom Bennett played From Russia With Love, Nobody Does It Better and Goldfinger. It was now time for Walter Perrie to take to the stage. He was joined by Tom Cowing from Hexham in the north east and also by Bill Gillie from Kelso who plays the drums. Walter And His Band Played a Set Of Reels, Hot Punch, Hills Of Alva, Mrs McPherson Of Invererch, Kulkurin Waltz, Jigs Cornriggs, Soldiers Joy, Highland Cradle Song, Reels – Balmoral Highlanders, St Alnes Reel, New High Level, Arahie Menzies, Coquette, Beautiful Days, Malaguena, Bourrasque, Circassian Circle / Bottom Up The Punch Dowl, Mucking A Geordie’s Byre, Hens March To The Midden, Flowers Of Edinburgh, My Love She Was A Lassie. After the break, we started the second half with John Higham playing Uncle Joe’s Mint Balls. I played Black Mask Waltz and was followed by Bill Agnew playing My Mother’s Eyes, Mocking Bird Hill, A Wee Dockin Doris, Keep Right On To The End Of The Road, Aint Misbehaving and Coming Round The Mountain. It was time for the return of Walter And His Band. They started their second session with a My Homeland Selection which included A Scottish Soldier, Jigs and Reels, Kapoozealum, Westering Home, Will You Go Lassie Go, Jaqueline Waltz, Mazurica Italiana (Marco Signori) and Cuckoo Waltz. Things slowed down with a few Russian pieces:- Moscow Nights, Dark Eyes, Nutbrown Maiden and Kalinka. It was time to go more upmarket with a few opera tunes:- You’re Breaking My Heart Cos You’re Leaving and Brindisi. A Reels Set was next with Tom, Bill and their friend Celia on stage while Walter took a breather. When Walter returned, the music continued with Hot Points by Frosini and Figaro’s Aria – Also Known As Largo Al Factotum From The Barber Of Saville. It was nearing the end of the night now and, after thanking us for coming to see him, Walter finished the night with O Sole Mio, Funiculi Funicula, Come Back To Sorrento, Poppa Piccolino, La Dansa, Scottish Finale Jigs and Reels
David Batty
Tom Alexander Music Books
I have copies of the Tom Alexander sheet music book The Flying Scotsman And Other Accordion Solos. I put a copy of this book on Ebay, and was pleased to sell two copies of the book from one advertisement. The cost to you is just £10. The sheet music in this book is:- The Flying Scotsman, Le Manege, The Oil Rigger, Alpine Express, Helen Armitt, Isle Of My Heart, Kenmore Gardens, Bowies Boat, Pat Macann MD, Kilwaughter House and Jimmy Shand (The Legend). You might remember some of these pieces from when Tom played at the club. These will be on sale at the club for £10, or can be posted to you for £12.50 inc. postage. This is a high quality glossy book of sheet music arranged by Tom Alexander especially for the accordion. Ask at the club if you would like to buy one of these excellent books.
Memberships
Its almost the end of the year, and time for renewing memberships to the club. The money is used to buy printer cartridges, paper, stamps, envelopes etc. As usual I have kept the cost to £5 for 2009 membership. You can pay on any club night between now and January/February or via post if you prefer.
This Wednesday
This Wednesday is one of our famous local players concerts. These are evenings featuring our own local talent playing in ten minute spots. These are great variety concerts where we have a lot of fun. If you are a player then please bring your accordion and give us a tune. If you dont play then we look forward to seeing you as an ‘audience’. As usual, the doors open at 7.30 for an 8pm start. Make sure you turn up early for a good seat. Please bring your family and friends. I will see you on Wednesday. David Batty
Bert Santilly New CD
Bert Santilly has a new CD out which he has recorded with his recently formed quartet with Bert on the Piano Accordion, Trevor Barlow on the clarinet and saxophone, Hugh Boyde on the guitar, and Laurence Evans on the double bass. The title of the CD is Shakey Breaks the Ice’. The music is a mixture of jazz standards, Klezmer dance numbers, Continental-style music, and original compositions written in a jazz style. The CD opens with ‘Songe d’Automne’, a Django Reinhardt 1940s swing composition that moves along briskly, featuring attractive solo breaks from all four players. This number sets the bar high musically, and is a shop window for what is to come. Other tracks include ‘Under Paris Skies’, which has clarinet and accordion taking turns to lead, in a typically French café jazz arrangement, and ‘Begin the Beguine’, a clarinet led arrangement much in the style of Benny Goodman mode. This is a CD that works on different levels in that it can be easy listening background music, yet also has much to offer the discerning listener. A special mention should go to the sound engineer, who achieved a perfect balance between instruments and an excellent sound quality.
For further information email bert@santilly.co.uk
Birmingham Accordion Centre
Birmingham Accordion Centre are currently working on a list of their stock of Concertinas and Melodions to add to their list of accordions on the website www.accordioncentre.co.uk. It is not well known that they stock either of these products but from next month you will be able to browse their complete stock list online, viewing photographs of each Melodion and Concertina.
National Composers’ Competition
The North Staffs National Composers’ Competition is normally held on alternate years and this year is one of those alternate years but the event will not be taking place this year …….. as of April 2009 it will be held annually by the NAO running along side the NAO Championships in Blackpool, It will be held on 24th to 26th of April 2009, and members from the North Staffs Accordion Club will be assisting with the running of this competition.
The Composers competition will follow closely with those of previous years but with a few differences (subject to confirmation in the NAO rules). Solo and duets will be separated into different sections. Competitors may enter two compositions in any applicable section (Professional, Amateur, Junior, Duet and Band/Group). There Will Be A Reduced Entrance Fee For NAO Members. Competitors may choose to enter their composition/s for a graded section open to both amateur and professional. Any compositions entered will be graded by the NAO and could be selected as NAO test pieces in future years.
The Entry Forms and rules for the event will be available in December 2008, and can be downloaded from www.accordions.com/nao, and can also be obtained from
Gina Brannelli, The NAO Secretariat
17 Marsh Mill Village, Thornton, Lancashire, FY5 4JZ
Telephone 01253 778764 – 01253 822046
NAO Memberships forms are also available either from the NAO Headquarters via the post, or over the Internet as a download.
St Audries Bay Teaching Week
This is a review of the Accordion Teaching Week that was held at St Audries Bay, Somerset in September, the review below was written by Rene Mairis:- This was a new venture, organised by John and Jackie Romero and designed to provide a longer and more relaxed experience than the weekend festivals, which are necessarily frenetic for nigh on 18 hours out of every 24. Daily seminars covered a range of styles and techniques. Gary Blair gave two Scottish workshops full of hints and tips on ornaments, bellows shakes and repeated notes and an entertaining concert. Gennaro Fiondella worked hard with the mixed ability orchestra, four sessions and managed to achieve a polished performance of three pieces. Harry Hussey led three jazz seminars which were much enjoyed, he also led the busking sessions every evening in the bar, jamming with anyone willing, or playing requests. John Romero kept busy with Electronic and Midi workshops, helped sort technical problems and everyone was happy. Pearl Fawcett-Adriano arrived on Wednesday evening and if anyone was flagging, her arrival lifted spirits to the sky. Pearl gave two excellent seminars which were useful for all standards and abilities. Every evening there were concerts given by the artistes, plus a guest concert. Gary, Gerry, John and Pearl were all fantastic – and very well received. To sum up, this was a week of music and laughter with friends and a chance to indulge in our favourite hobby.
Colin Ensor New CD
Colin Ensor has just recorded a new CD after being pestered to do so by various people at the club. This CD modestly titled “Coltrax – Basic Stuff” contains 30 accordion tracks and 11 piano tracks on one CD. The titles are What More Can I Say, La Vie-en-Rose, Under Paris Skies, You’ll Never Know, May You Always, Sunshine/Someday, Maigret, Secondary Waltz, Autumn Leaves, At the Balalaika, Pigalle, Getting Sentimental Over You, Sweetheart Of All My Dreams, Please, Down Forget-me-not Lane, Music Maestro Please, I’ll String Along With You, Reine de Musette, More Than You Know, Pavements of Paris, Lara’s Theme, Once In A While, Domino, Seth Davy, Just One Cornetto, I Won’t Forget You, We Just Couldn’t Say Goodnight, I Won’t Tell A Soul, Charmaine, Who’s Taking You Home Tonight, Sweet Dreams, The Bells Are Ringing, If This Is The Last Time, Titanic, Shanty Town/ Sentimental, Mobile, No-one But You, The Entertainer, The Anniversary Waltz, We’ll Meet Again and Now Is The Hour. If you would like a copy then it costs just £5 if purchased direct from Colin at the club.