Review:

Steve Hubble, Weyhill Electronic Organ Society, 18 January 

THE WEOS 2018 programme was opened by talented musician Steve Hubble, from Broadmayne in Dorset, who performed the January concert. Steve was making his third appearance for the Club and provided the audience with a varied and entertaining musical evening. Originally from Birmingham, he was aged 18 when he won the Midlands Organist of the Year Contest and this launched him into his professional career as a concert organist and keyboard player. He now tours extensively throughout the UK, playing for clubs and at festivals, where he is especially noted for his excellent musical arrangements, his orchestral style of playing and his pursuit of top quality sounds. He has also appeared many times on radio, including BBC Radio 2 and Radio WM. From Steve’s opening number – his own arrangement of the Weyhill Overture (the Club’s signature tune) - through to his encore, the Dixieland-style Muskrat Ramble, it was obvious to the listeners that each piece had been thoroughly prepared to produce the best possible sounds and to ensure that most tastes were satisfied.

The first half included such items as Hello Again (Neil Diamond), Gabriel’s Oboe (Ennio Morricone’s memorable theme for The Mission), The Impossible Dream and a selection from Grease. Less well-known tunes, but equally enjoyable, included Through The Eyes Of Love, the Marvin Hamlisch theme for the film Ice Castles, and Soul Coaxing (Raymond Lefèvre) – the latter being a theme once often used by Radio Caroline and Radio Luxembourg. After the interval, the high standard was maintained with an updated piece of Classical music, namely the rock band Sky’s version of Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D Minor. The late James Last was remembered with The Lonely Shepherd (complete with the predominant sounds of pan flute and trumpet), whilst The Blue Danube Waltz (Johann Strauss II) provided another delightful melody. Steve continued with the Top Gun Anthem (from the Tom Cruise film) and Wichita Lineman, the Jimmy Webb composition recorded by Glen Campbell, before playing the haunting theme from the classic Western film, Once Upon A Time In The West. The evening ended with an extensive selection of music from Phantom Of The Opera which was very well received. Indeed, the entire ‘Music Of The Night’ at Weyhill met with wholehearted approval – it was certainly full value entertainment.

The next WEOS concert will be staged at the Fairground Hall, Weyhill on Thursday 15 February, when PAUL CARMAN, from Leicestershire, is the guest player. Tickets are priced at £5.00 in advance (from Just Teasin, 40 Bridge Street, Andover) or £6.00 at the door. For further information about the Club telephone 01264 323213 or visit www.weyhill-eos.co.uk.