Directions to the Home of Mike Foley80 Ellington Rd, Tolland CTFrom I-84, take exit 67 Schedule:7:00 pm pre-concert drinks 7:30 pm theater organ concert with Jelani Eddington Information about the artist and the organ:From Mike: I’m really delighted that we could get Jelani to play this concert for us. Without doubt, he’s one of the greatest living theatre organists. For those who may not have ever been to a real theatre organ concert on a modern day Wurlitzer, know that you’re in for a treat. Jelani’s a fully trained organist with technique and articulation to spare. Probably the most recorded organist today (50 CD’s and counting) and without a shred of music, he flawlessly performs hundreds of tunes from Broadway shows to transcriptions. His programming is as brilliant as his keyboard talents. I assure you that you’ll not be disappointed. As theatre organs go, our 25 rank Wurlitzer is considered sizeable. Hard to believe, but crucial to the best theatre organ sound, every two ranks shares a dedicated tremolo. The result is a most special symphonic sound, not one of soap-opera tremulated flutes that some still associate with early-day theatre organs. The organist here has a 25 piece orchestra at his fingertips and some, like Jelani, are able to bring this “Unit Orchestra” to life. There are all the usual bells and whistles but they’ll be in the sophisticated musical context you’d hear with the orchestra… not the clanging cymbals, drums and glockenspiels we associate with merry-go-rounds. |