Performance Reviews 2010 2011-Clacton Arts & Literary Society

The final presentation of the 2010/2011 season ensured that the society’s programme ended on a high note with a foot tapping evening from Sue Greenaway and her seventeen piece band, ably assisted by singer and compere Tony Jacobs and guest singer Eleanor Keenan. This new show told the fascinating story of Glenn Miller and put his music in the context of the Swing Era by celebrating some of the other contemporary classic big bands. Sue, an accomplished Saxophonist and member of various big bands has brought together a musical ensemble of accomplished musicians who displayed their skill in a programme crammed full of Glen Miller standards in the first half and a selection from the repertoires of other Big Bands in the 1940s and 1950s in the second half.

The programme began with a rousing version of ‘Sweet Sue’ which segued into that Miller standard ‘Little Brown Jug’ comprising some effective solos from individual members. The number ‘Russian Patrol’ was another showcase number with some very good band solos and it was very evident how much the band was enjoying performing. The band’s zenith in the first half was ‘Bugle Call Rag’ which featured a stunning drum solo from Neil Bullock...

The second half continued the rousing high standard and we were fortunate to hear a trumpet solo by Annette Brown on ‘Star Dreams’ which was excellent and this number was a precursor to ‘Charmaine’ with a nice arrangement of slurpy saxophones from the front row. Sue herself gave an impressive solo on ‘Poinciana’ and the programme culminated with that well known composition ‘In the Mood’ which was a fitting finale to the evening and generated a justified encore.
The musical prowess of Sue and her Band was indeed impressive and it was gratifying to see and hear seventeen musicians who so obviously enjoyed what they were performing. The singing credits to Tony Jacobs and Eleanor Keenan were well deserved, although perhaps some more involvement from Eleanor might have been preferable. This was a great end to the current season and members left with a spring in their step ready to face the chill Clactonian winds.
The evening was sponsored by GCS Alarms of Clacton.

What can I realistically add to what has already been said about Sue Greenway and her wonderful band of musicians-every single one of them a virtuoso in his/her own right?

Tony Jacobs-a very necessary ingredient in this `home baked pie`-to not have him involved would be like a car without a steering wheel-he sort of binds(not as per constipated)the proceedings together and gives direction to any project he is involved with and his obvious deep knowledge and informed comment about the subject is truly marvellous.
To say nothing of his handsome good looks, velvet voice and his lovely endearing sense of humour-sometimes showing the wicked- (current context) side of his nature!

Eleanor Keegan-her sumptuous vocal range with rich timbres aptly complimented Tony (in their duets) and suitably echoed the days when this type of music was all the rage.

Another wonderful evening of music from the era when melodies reigned supreme-the views expressed within the lines of the songs are still as relevant today and tunes composed then are instantly recognised now, many decades later.
Indeed some of our better known young, contemporary vocalists have these `standards` in their repertoire and they are regarded as `staple diet!`

This music will never die and the likes of Sue are to be congratulated that, in these times of austerity and where just about anything can pass(in some circles) as `good` she is travelling around and keeping this outstanding genre alive.
Well, this concert brings to a close another very successful and varied season of events (except for the ever important AGM on 21/3/2011)-all involved are to be heartily congratulated for their continued efforts on our behalf.

We eagerly wait to see what thrills have been `lined up` for the forthcoming season, starting again in October.
In the meantime, several excursions have been planned to keep the society’s endeavours in our minds and agenda.

‘Weird Creatures’

The Society's 15th Presentation last Monday evening was entitled ‘Weird Creatures’ and featured Nick Baker, Biologist, Naturalist and TV Presenter. Nick is well known from the BBC programmes ‘The Really Wild Show’ and ‘CBBC’s Spring Watch’ and more recently Channel 5’s ‘Weird Creatures’. Nick’s love of insects and reptiles began at an early age and his naturalist leanings were formalised when he attended Exeter University and achieved a good degree in Biology. Having worked at the university he left to begin a career in television and as a writer.

Nick’s engaging personality and the early rapport with members drove the evening on at a good space and we were treated to a series of images, videos and anecdotes surrounding some of the weird creatures that are so dear to him. His hunt in the cave complex of Postojna in Slovenia for the Olm was told amusingly, and he has the ability to impart considerable quantities of information about particular species. Similarly his search for the Hellbender Salamander (one of the largest amphibians found today) was interesting and the images shown confirmed its placing as a weird creature.

From a personal viewpoint it was Nick’s visit to Mexico City and Lake Xochimilco to search for the last wild Axolotl that encapsulated the importance of such expeditions. The Lake(now reduced to a turgid foul smelling canal) is the only wild home of this amphibian and whilst it is facing the ever increasing encroachment of humans from Mexico City, the creatures are also under threat from the introduction of African Tilapia and Asiatic Carp which are used as food fish.

Nick’s presentation style is very engaging and he easily imparts explanations as to why these animals appear so weird to us and how their appearance and habits are actually born out of an evolutionary need to tackle some unique habitats and solutions. This is delivered with a generous helping of irreverence and humour which cannot hide his love for these creatures. The evening was an unqualified success with its amalgam of adventure, conservation, and just bizarreness.
The evening was sponsored by Tendring Reuse & Employment Enterprise.

21st February David Watkins Michael Bochmann Jane Leslie Mackenzie
‘An Evening of Musical Delights’ Celebrated harpist David Watkins and violinist Michael Bochmann collaborate with soprano Jane Leslie Mackenzie in a varied musical concert.

An evening of musical delights 21/2/2011.

With their demeanour, in another life I’m convinced that David Watkins(harp)
was a kindly woodcarver(named Giuseppe!?) working away in his damp little
basement room(in Scandinavia) and that Michael Bochmann (violin) was the
result of his laborious endeavours!

`Ah, the musings of an old gal with warped mind!?`
Seriously, their great musical dexterity and minute attention to detail was
breathtaking in the extreme and their solo presentations/ interpretations
were inspired! These wonderful artistes with much genuine humility and their
ability to coax incredible musical sounds from their instruments gave us an
evening we will savour for a long time to come. The dazzling finger work and
bowing of Michael (who informed us that his violin, made in Italy about 300
years ago, had a very varied life and was now safely and proudly in his
possession!) and the beautiful and sympathetic tones of David at the harp,
who told us that his much coveted instrument was willed to him by his
teacher- all enhanced this lovely evening.

They were joined by Jane Leslie McKenzie (who told us coyly that she was not
about to reveal the age of her instrument!?)-slight in stature but with a voice
that could `charm the birds from the trees` and easily be heard (un-amplified )
many blocks from the theatre, even on a foggy winter’s evening!
I must admit that this combination of instruments initially made me wonder
what we were `in line for` and how they would fill an evening’s programme-was
I ever pleasantly surprised!

A very varied programme with some music that we knew well(the Swan, Ave
Maria etc) and others pieces that the musicians themselves arranged for
violin and harp which we were glad to be introduced to-I particularly liked the
trio’s poignant `Dido’s lament`(used on each Remembrance Day service from
the cenotaph, in London.)

The choice of curtain backdrop colour (nothing to do with the society) was a
little unfortunate (red or blue would have been better) as, from where I was
sitting, the harpist occasionally looked like he was playing an imaginary
instrument as the gold was exactly the same as the harp-but this didn’t really
detract from what was another exceptional night at the Arts and Lits.

Jennifer Kersey.

Right from the very first words he uttered, we could see this
was indeed going to be a very exciting evening-we were not
disappointed!

The much travelled and well respected John Pilkington told us
about just one of his many adventures - `the axis of evil`, this
one that took him through lands of the Middle East.

Always volatile and a hotbed of discontent these countries proved
little problems for our intrepid explorer!

His sheer enthusiasm to share with us, with the aid of projected
images, shone through the whole presentation.

A very humble man with a great deal of knowledge and respect
for others and their diverse habitat gained from his journeys into
places where the tourist never really goes.

Another memorable evening provided by Clacton `Arts and Lits`-
quite different from the previous musical one, but with just as
much merit.

Anthony Stuart Lloyd-now there’s a good old Welsh surname-big in stature-mammoth in talent!
With a voice borne on the wings of angels from the very heart of Heaven and a disposition that is genuinely as `umble as is humanly possible, this mighty man served up a delightful feast of diverse music of all genres.

Sympathetically accompanied on the piano by the very talented…Sharon Richards, who gave several solo musical interludes ranging from the beauty and tenderness of Debussy(the girl with the flaxen hair) to a deep and moving composition by a French composer entitled `Litanies of France`-her final piece being a jazz exercise by outstanding pianist-Oscar Peterson.

During the first half a paper clip, probably falling from a gantry above, entered the piano and lay across a string giving it a slightly `harpsichordal sound` whenever played-the pianist and vocalist, despite numerous attempts were unable to establish exactly where it was so they pressed on until the interval when it was found and removed.

I tend to think that it was from somewhere far more mundane-the piano tuner’s lunch was probably wrapped and secured in a plastic bag by this clip and he carelessly discarded it-we must be ever thankful that a half eaten cheese sandwich was not also found in there!!
Anthony’s anecdotes about his homeland and family soon established him a an entertainer of the finest calibre not at all afraid to have a laugh at his own expense and his light hearted view of opera and the characters involved was very refreshing and further endeared him to us.

Another truly memorable night –let’s hope it is not too long before they visit us again.

Jennifer Kersey.

The latest speaker was Valerie Leon, Bond girl, who gave us her life story., She started life working in Harrods and after amateur dramatics there went into musical comedy as a show girl and progressed to various roles in The Saint, Persuaders (with Roger Moore) as well as cameo roles in several of the Carry On films and a starring role in Blood from the Mummy's Tomb, a Hammer Horror film.

17th January Julian Lloyd Webber with pianist Pam Chowhan
‘Travels with my Cello’

A wonderful evening was enjoyed by a packed house at the Princes Theatre for the opening evening of the second half of the Arts and Literary Society programme. Julian Lloyd Webber, the world renowned cellist, accompanied by Pam Chowhan delighted the audience with a selection of pieces by well known composers. The beautiful Adagio in G by Bach and The Swan by Saint Saens were a treat not to be missed.

The beginning of the second half was devoted to Lloyd Webber compositions – a haunting piece by his father, William, “In the Half Light”, followed by Song for Baba composed by Julian nineteen years ago and, of course, Music of the Night, by his brother Andrew. This lovely music was followed by a video presentation aspecting much of his career performing around the world. A reading from his book ‘Travels with my Cello’ had the audience chuckling, before he delighted us once more with music for piano and cello which culminated with the Ritual Fire Dance by Falla. The audience wanted more and the artistes were joined by Julian’s wife, the cellist Jiaxin Cheng, for an encore which brought to an end a most memorable evening.

We awaited the Julian Lloyd Webber concert with positive anticipation-we
were not disappointed!

A truly awe inspiring experience-liberally spread with genuine humility (he
made light of his own delightful composition)-`song for baba!`
This, especially relevant when put in context with those of his very famous
brother!

A person that we had seen on our television screens and heard on radio
over many years, he has been associated with the very `crème de crème`
of international musicians of all genres.

Some of the tunes we already knew-others not familiar at all, but every
one presented with such accuracy and the dedication that has become his
trademark.

Very ably accompanied on the piano by Pam Chowhan.
Also many had not realised (including me!) that Julian`s wife is also an
accomplished cellist and it was marvellous that she joined the duo for the
encore and made a very valuable contribution.

Another wonderful evening proving yet again, that if enough people give
support (the theatre was packed)-anything is possible!

Jennifer Kersey.

6th December Cantabile

The final programme for 2010 gave the members of the Arts & Literary Society a wonderful evening of perfect harmony when Cantabile gave us their Christmas concert. This was unaccompanied singing at its most sublime. The four members of the London Quartet, Michael Steffan, Mark Fleming, Steven Brooks and Richard Bryan, presented Christmas music in its most varying forms and included their famous 28 carols in three minutes. There was the usual and unusual audience participation with two of the best known carols, Hark the Herald Angels Sing and Good King Wenceslas followed by the audience providing the sleigh bells with their car keys during Sleigh Ride. The concert ended with the Twelve Days of Christmas and an encore which included Silent Night.

It is increasingly difficult(with each visit) to find superlatives to adequately describe Cantabile-suffice really to say that (in terms of a libation!) they are like a `velvety Irish cream whisky`-on a cold, dismal, damp foggy night (as it was outside)-they surely are guaranteed to warm the very depths of your soul!

The unique harmonies are complimented by gentle humour sprinkled throughout their immaculate presentation (both in sound and
image!) Once again they thrilled us with the content of their programme-a mixture of favourite festive music and some not so well knownbut all delivered with the same scintillating degree of attention to detail.

Yet another wonderful evening and a suitable end to this part of the season.
Jennifer Kersey

The members of the Arts & Literary Society were treated a wonderful evening of nostalgia on Monday when Tony Jacobs and Jim Barry presented their programme ~Two Gentlemen and a Piano (not forgetting the trumpet). This was a programme of the music from the 1920s, 30s and 40s. Jim Barry, an exceptional jazz pianist, delighted us with his syncopation and rhythm. Tony Jacobs, who has been with us on several previous occasions, sang so very many of the songs we knew and loved. Songs by Rogers and Hart, George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter et al, music from the era most of us had grown up in and we sang along, tapped our feet, clapped and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Tony also played the trumpet enlivening the proceedings with Tiger Rag and Alexander’s Ragtime Band.

This was a very happy evening sponsored by two of our members, Mr and Mrs Eric Hammond in celebration of Mr Hammond’s 90th birthday.

Well,what can anyone say about this duo except `immaculate in presentation and content.`

Tony Jacobs has got to be one of our best contemporary vocalists(he`s not `alf bad on a trumpet too!)

Put him with the giant talent of the keyboard that is Jim Barry and there really are not too many words that can adequately describe this team.

Yet another triumph for the society and success yet again from the `Cindy Hardy stable!`

15th November John McCarthy

The members of the Arts & Literary Society were privileged to meet and listen to a very charming and unassuming man called John McCarthy at their meeting on Monday evening. John described in considerable detail what happened to him in Lebanon following his capture on the way to Beirut airport. It was a very poignant tale interspersed with a humour which captivated the audience. He told how he and Brian Keenan formed a great friendship during their captivity together and how later he joined the two Americans. It was the American. Terry Anderson, who communicated with Terry Waite in the next cell by coded tapping on the wall. We were also told how John returned to freedom and the letter from hiz captors which had agreed to hand to the Secretary General of the United Nations. The evening ended with a question and answer session. This was special evening sponsored b Thomson, Smith and Puxon, Solcitors.

The Arts & Literary Society were treated to a most wonderful evening of piano playing duets when David Nettle and Richard Markham presented their programme of music for two pianos.

The stage of the Princes Theatre was dominated by two magnificent Steinway concert pianos and the two artistes used them to full effect. The programme was very varied with music by Percy Grainger, Gershwin, Shostakovich and to end the first half of the concert by Richard Addinsell’s Warsaw Concerto, a truly virtuoso performance. After the interval, the members heard the world premiere performance of a Fantasy on themes from Turundot by Puccini which had been arranged by Nettle and Markham. This was greatly appreciated by the audience.

This was a very enjoyable evening sponsored by Countywide Lettings and Property Management of Holland on Sea.

David Nettle and Richard Markham-`two pianos.`

I always very much enjoy the presentations on Monday evenings-it warms my heart(and my body!)on a cold winter`s night to know that there are, in our midst,individuals who do appreciate `live` entertainment, as opposed to those prepared to digest the load of `pap` we are fed on a daily basis in the media and thus prepared to make the effort to attend,
some travelling quite a distance.

True talent and dedication are `tabled` at the `party`(feast) we are weekly invited to.
I am particularly drawn(although they all are super and one week is different from the next-variety is indeed, as Cindy Hardy plans, the `spice of our lives`) towards the musical items, so I was looking forward to the two pianists-I was not disappointed!

They gave a superb evening of varied music played impeccably on the lovely grand pianos on stage.-with not a sheet of music in sight!
This was very brave, as some of the pieces they played were well known and `note for note` accuracy was needed(especially the mighty `Warsaw concerto`)

They also demonstrated their arranging skills-I chuckled when I heard that maestro, Leonard Bernstein had declined to do an arrangement for two pianos, of songs from his ever popular `West side story`-his reply-"too many notes involved, dear boy-why not have a go at it yourself?"
So they did and the result was breathtaking!
Another fine evening with good music and good company.
Jennifer kersey (miss)

The second session of the Arts & Literary Society consisted of a delightful slide presentation of “A Camel Odysey” by Geoff Somers MBE.

We were greatly entertained and amused by his recollections of a journey of 1,400 miles across Australia to Ayres Rock accompanied by three camels, two of whom gave birth to calves during the trip. There were the most lovely photographs of the babies being carried on the piles of luggage until they were strong enough to walk. The young camels were a great source of enjoyment to the native people when the adventurers stayed on their homelands. Geoff had a very light hearted approach to his lecture which went down well with the audience.

He started his talk by explaining how he came to be an adventurer – apparently at the age of 11 years he and his older brother cycled 300 miles and the next year to Scotland and back (from the Lake District). As an adult he has travelled across the Antarctic and the Arctic continents many times and has also been across Australia but not with just one companion (and three camels).

This was altogether a very enjoyable evening for the audience and the sponsors Fred Olsen Travel of Colchester.

The new season of the Arts and Literary Society got off to a magnificent start when Opera Box presented “Mozartissimo”. This talented group of musicians, Shelly Organ, David Miller and Gillian Taylor, accompanied soprano Alison Charlton-West and Brendan Wheatley through a range of Mozart’s operatic masterpieces, with all the aplomb of a full orchestra.. The set and costumes were 18th century and created a very authentic atmosphere.

Brendan Wheatley, as Herr Emanuel Schikeaneder (the original Papagano in the Magic Flute), set the scene with many interesting anecdotes about Mozart. The music encompassed his early life with an aria from Bastien und Bastienne, composed when Mozart was only 12 year old, through to his most famous operas, the Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni and the Magic Flute which was written just before his death aged 35. This was a truly epic performance and received with tumultuous applause.

The members of the Arts and Literary Society were treated to a very different entertainment this week, as Dr Mark Baldwin let them into the secrets of the German Enigma machine. With the aid of slide illustrations he explained how this fascinating machine decoded the thousands of morse code messages sent during the Second World War which had been intercepted at Bletchley Park. The mansion at Bletchley Park housed the decoding centre, which grew and grew until the entire grounds were covered with Huts filled with people decoding and encoding messages. There was another more sophisticated machine used for the very highest level of secret communications by the Germans and to break these ciphers, it had been necessary to build the world’s first programmable electronic computer – the Colossus.

The evening ended with the invitation for members to try the Enigma machine which Dr Baldwin had brought along with him. This offer was taken up very eagerly and members and the sponsors Fred Olsen Cruise Lines showed their great appreciation of this very different experience..

What a tremendous start to the season with a polished concert given by English Serenata. Everything was perfect and echoed a time of austerity and gentleness to one's fellow being (unless they happened to be a German!) something very sadly missing in many areas today!

The words of the love story between two very ordinary people complimented the music ably played by the small band of musicians and sung by the female vocalist.

I, as you may well know from reading my other praises about the high standards achieved and held by the society, was particularly impressed that each artiste was given their own bottle of water and a glass-non of that disgusting contemporary habit of many entertainers-`swigging` from a bottle with their back turned on the audience!

Cindy very carefully placed the refreshments at strategic points just before the concert. Neither did the narrator (as Churchill) update Winston's words and `pepper` his speech with that abhorrent current terminology for people of either sex-`guys`-ugh and double ugh (if there is such a thing?)

Monday nights are again now a pleasure for me–it fair brought a lump to my throat, only trouble is that it's all over too soon!

Clacton & North East Essex Arts & Literary Society - 2010 2011 season

Review / Comments on Monday Nights Performance

‘The Glenn Miller Story’

‘Weird Creatures’

An evening of musical delights 21/2/2011.

6th December Cantabile

15th November John McCarthy

David Nettle and Richard Markham-`two pianos.`

The second session of the Arts & Literary Society consisted of a delightful slide presentation of “A Camel Odysey” by Geoff Somers MBE.

Arts & Lits Gallery