Album Notes

HARRY - 'THE BEST DAMN PIANIST IN THE CIVILISED WORLD!' (Jonathan Ross BBC TV)


Since starting to play at the age of four Harry has set about proving that he can do 'absolutely anything on piano'. Quite simply, he does things with the instrument that you've never heard before, moving seamlessly between jazz, cabaret and classical in a manner that hasn't been seen in the UK since the heyday of Dudley Moore.

Very few artists can command respect in such differing fields, but Harry has such an extraodinary talent that as well as running a 20 piece dance band by the age of nineteen and appearing with a who's who of British jazz musicians culminating with a night at Ronnie Scotts last year, he has also accompanied just about everybody in the business from Englebert Humperndink and Charlotte Church to David Bowie and James Belushi via Elvis Costello and opera star Sir Willard White as well as being musical director for top of
the bill acts at the Moulin Rouge in his early twenties and subsequently going on to direct performers as diverse as Rick Astley, Phill Jupitus, Max Bygraves, The Opera Babes, Fay Presto and literally scores of others.

He appeared recently on BBC Radio 3 taking requests from a live audience to play any tune in the style of the composer of their choice to rapturous acclaim and prompted the comment from astonished presenter Brian Kaye 'How does he do it?' After a recent sellout concert celebrating the best of British pianistic talent where Harry was asked to perform, the international star concert pianist Martin Roscoe noted 'You practise all your
life and you think you can play the piano and then you hear Harry'. Even in the field of pop music Harry has been recognised playing on the latest Simply Red and Emma Bunton albums.

He began as resident pianist in Soho's Groucho club where he was quickly spotted and given his own show on BBC Radio 2, he moved on to become the resident pianist on Channel 4's Big Breakfast for 5 years and to run the nine-piece band on Johnny Vaughan Tonight on BBC1 for three series. He put together his one-man show along with the release of an album 'In the Wrong Key' in the mid nineties and was lauded by the British Press as 'The New Victor Borge' and by Jonathan Ross as 'the best damn pianist in the civilised
world'

Another album ‘All The Way Through’ followed - the show went on to be seen seen in all six continents, and was recently chosen to appear on the maiden voyage of the Queen Mary 2 alongside Dame Shirley Bassey and has sold out venues everywhere from London’s famous Pizza on the Park (five times) and the 2000 seater Portsmouth Guildhall to the Holders theatre Barbados, the Hong Kong fringe club, the Adelaide festival as well as countless venues all over Europe.

Harry’s most recent highlight was stealing the show in front of a packed Albert Hall when in a charity Gala evening with Julian Lloyd Webber, G4, Amici and the RPO, host Aled Jones asked him to play ‘In an English Country Garden’ in the style of Wagner interspersed with some Kylie! The result produced a standing ovation.

'Spellbinding...staggering virtuosity' said the Sunday Times and 'A National treasure' added the Scotsman' You have never ever heard the piano played like this before!


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CELEBRITY AND PROFESSIONAL QUOTES

‘Harry is a man of steely nerve and silky touch, a wonderful player for the big
occasion and a damn fine musical head.’Genius playing, I’m so jealous!’
ELVIS COSTELLO

‘The best damn pianist in the civilised world.’
JONATHAN ROSS

‘The best music show I've ever seen'
TERRY WOGAN




‘Some artists are not immediately pigeon hole-able so when you come to hear them you are not quite sure what to expect. But the joy then on witnessing something extraodinary is so much greater for that uncertainty. Harry came to me highly recommended, but still something of an unknown quantity. My response on hearing him – and more importantly the response of the audience – was immediate. What an incredible musical brain, what an incredible musical wit, and what a truly incredible pianistic technique. I’m not normally one to gush, far from it, but Harry really has been my discovery of the year.’

STEWART COLLINS Artistic Director of the Henley Festival, the Chelsea Festival and Barbados’ Holders Season

‘His phenomenal talent, unobtrusive charm and wit are a delight.’
STEPHEN FRY

How does he do it?’
BRIAN KAYE BBC RADIO 3

‘Harry can play anything, anywhere, any time – when he played with Elvis Costello, it
was an entertainment high point of my life. He can work any theme into any song.
He’s unique, you’ll love him!’
JOHNNY VAUGHAN

'An absolutely terrific show'
RONNIE CORBETT

‘Prepare to be dazzled by this charming man’s versatility, there is nothing he cannot do.’
LIZA TARBUCK

‘He is very good indeed.’
SIR WILLARD WHITE

‘I can safely say that as a pianist and all-round entertainer, Harry is without equal in
my experience.’
ANDREW KEMBLE (Managing Director Yamaha Music UK )

‘You are a genius. You made the music happen. It was a privilege to work with you.’
LINDA BELL (Editor, Topical Programming, Thames Television)


PRESS QUOTES


'Harry is a National treasure.'
JUDI HERMAN The Scotsman

'An uncanny ability to play any tune in any style.'
REGGIE NADELSON The Independent

’Genius playing, I’m so jealous!’
ALAN RUSBRIDGER The Guardian

'Spellbinding.... Staggering virtuosity.'
PAUL GOLDING Sunday Times

'The new Victor Borge.'
DEREK BRIGGS Gloucester Echo


'A purveyor of magic.... Stunningly clever. Technical perfection and extraordinary
musicianship.'
PETER BUCHAN West Sussex County Times

'There are very few musicians who could extemporise such medleys in front of our
eyes and ears. Harry must be unique and I can't wait to hear him again.'
JASPER DIMMOND East Sussex Times






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