Following the inclusion of an excellent percussionist in the January concert, WEOS once again dispelled the perception that the Club is about ‘organ’ music by engaging the services of pianist, SIMON WOODLEY, for the February event.

Indeed, the monthly entertainment usually involves versatile electronic keyboards, occasionally complemented by vocals and a little comedy, so this was yet another successful venture.

Performing on his digital piano, Simon enthralled the audience with his faultless playing and his range of music, especially with the Classical pieces he included in his programme. The attendance of 91 – the best since the concerts resumed in October – was very satisfying, and the music even more so, beginning with The Sound Of Music Overture, followed by a selection of songs from the musical, and concluding with Climb Every Mountain.

The first example of Simon’s obvious love of Classical music was Debussy’s Arabesque, after which the audience was invited to name the films that included the themes he then proceeded to play: these included Tara’s Theme from the film ‘Gone With The Wind’, the main theme from 'Ladies in Lavender' and the Warsaw Concerto from ‘Dangerous Moonlight’. The Beatles song, Here Comes The Sun, was next to feature, followed by a Mozart Piano Concerto and a medley of George Gershwin songs – Someone to Watch Over Me, Embraceable You and I Got Rhythm – and all too soon, the first half had ended.

The second half opened in similar fashion to the first, with songs from a well-known musical, in this case ‘My Fair Lady’ – featuring On The Street Where You Live, Wouldn’t It Be Loverly and I Could Have Danced All Night. Simon then introduced Beethoven’s beautiful Moonlight Sonata before performing the Love Theme from The Godfather (subsequently lyricised into Speak Softly, Love and recorded by Andy Williams). Another Classical piece presented to the audience was Edvard Grieg’s Wedding Day at Troldhaugen, followed, in complete contrast, by Elton John’s Your Song.

Re-engaging the audience by asking for the names of favourite musicals, Simon proceeded to play a song selected from each, commencing with Oh What A Beautiful Morning from ‘Oklahoma’ and continuing with On My Own from ‘Les Miserables’, Maria from ‘West Side Story’, Some Enchanted Evening from ‘South Pacific’ and Singing In The Rain from the musical of the same name. Minds were then turned towards Italy as Simon performed Come Back To Sorrento (a Dean Martin favourite), La Bohème, Cavalleria Rusticana and O Sole Mio (with the audience amusingly singing along with words associated with ice cream!).

Regretfully, time for the finale had arrived, for which the Waltz Of The Flowers from Tchaikovsky’s ‘The Nutcracker’ was chosen. However, there was no way that Simon could be allowed to leave the stage until he had played the customary encore – on this occasion, Scott Joplin’s ragtime theme The Entertainer from the film titled ‘The Sting’. Undoubtedly, the concert had been a great success, certainly justifying the decision to introduce entertainment that was a little different – and an evening in the presence of a very talented and dedicated musician.