Yep, better do my job thought your editor as she nipped along to St Lawrence Church in the village of Carlton Miniott, on the outskirts of Thirsk to review the concert presented by Music at Junction 50. Featuring Chamberlain and Haywood it promised a couple of interesting hours of music with a break for refreshments, or so she hoped, but one never knows.

‘Sit down, sit still, Dick and don’t fall asleep,’ was Margaret’s instruction to husband, praying she wouldn’t nod off either because she had stepped in as her Music Critic was reviewing A Midsummer Dream concert in the south.

Then in through the external door sauntered Michael Haywood playing clarinet as he continued down the aisle ( give that man a starring role in a drama emulating Frank Sinatra someone.) A great stirring of interest…

From the left of the alter not to be outdone, Paul Chamberlain sauntered in playing the accordian. Together they made extraordinary music; the church hummed with energy, excitement, enjoyment. No sleep for Dick, because he didn’t want to miss a moment. There was a general stiffening of spines all around, as attention was held by these two talented musicians who managed to combined excellence with a showmanship that reached out, and engaged the audience. Feet were tapping, people were smiling and wondering how on earth an accordian could mimic an orchestra? How on earth could a clarinet soar and sink, laugh and cry, as it seemed to do? To be replaced by a saxophone, a violin, a series of whistles.

On it went, with Paul Chamberlain, who a mere eighteen months ago underwent a successful heart transplant – yes, that’s what I said, a heart transplant, squeezing the buffers as I call them, in and out, while pressing a million different buttons, even recruiting his chin to press a button which produced a particular note (if memory serves). Meanwhile, Michael Haywood switched instruments with careless abandon, as the pair of them gathered us up into their spell, moving from Mozart, Galliano – Song for Joss (one of my favourites), and particularly Cafe 1930, then Paul’s composition inspired by a spell on Orkney which has many 1WW battleships sunk beneath the sea. So evocative, moving, and successful. Then over to Michael Haywood for the Wee Whistle Set, which was amusing, lighthearted, but didn’t in anyway disguise his skills.

Refreshments were a dream, chat chat, very full glasses of wine were sipped, and sipped again – ooh, lovely jubbly, leading to even more excited chats while Dick buttonholed Michael to talk about the Penny Whistle which Michael played. I didn’t understand a word, so can’t repeat. There were fabulous eats from the Baldersby ladies, because Baldersby’s St James’ congregation were to host the event but then the roof fell in – yes really – and the guys weren’t  even putting themselves through their paces, so we can’t blame them for raising, – or crashing – the roof. Baldersby’s loss was indeed Carlton Miniott’s gain.

The 2nd half was a similar romp, with Brahms followed by Angelis’ Romance, which made me cry, then Khachaturian, jazz, Tango, Polka, Monti – the end.

Oh no, don’t stop, so an encore and finally we let these young men, with big hearts, and even bigger talents as musicians and composers, give a final bow. But, we so didn’t want them to go. What a triumph. Encore, encore, come again, p-l-e-a-s-e, Paul and Michael, or we will all have to be groupies and follow you to every gig of the Hotscotch Ceilidh Band, in which you also play.

But they did promise to return. Yes, they did, so we will keep them to it.

 

Hearts lifted before everyone traipsed home, fortified by wine and eats, when the audience learned that Music at Junction 50 would welcome Mary Reid (harp)  and Ainsley Hamill  (vocalist) on 2nd September 2.30. And The All sorts on 28th September 7pm (Vocalists). Quite where, we have yet to hear.

Really truly we are spoiled in Thirsk, and surrounding area. We truly are.

Tickets and information:  Sue Brown – c.b.brown398@hotmail.co.uk or Colin Reid – colinreid97@yahoo.co.uk

To find out more about Hotscotch Ceilidh Band with Paul Chamberlain on accordian. Michael Haywood on fiddle and Jim Walker drums go to www.myceilidh.co.uk