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Barry Baker at the Bristol Paramount,
Back in the pre-TV era listeners to BBC radio in Great Britain were intrigued by the orchestral arrangements featured in his programming by Charles Shadwell, Conductor of the BBC Variety Orchestra. A well known melody would be tricked up in various disguises mixing orchestral tone colors with unusual harmonic treatments, strange instrumental duets, e.g.between piccolo and bassoon, unexpected key changes and frequent use of percussions such as xylophone and snare drum. The overall effect on the listener was both fascinating and amusing. The reason I find myself recollecting these memories from my younger days is that this was exactly the kind of program which Barry Baker offered his audience at the Bristol Paramount Wurlitzer for the first concert of the 2005 season. As Chet Rataski, Crew Chief of the Paramount put it, " Barry is not your run of the mill Theatre Organist." He is one of that group of relatively young performers whose manual dexterity is quite amazing, due in part no doubt to his early classical piano training. His harmonies give us a taste of modern jazz progressions, and this coupled with dramatic and aurally stimulating registrations transforms even well known pieces into whole new listening experiences. The Wurlitzer responded ably to his requirements, both musical and technical. If I may venture a gentle criticism of his performance it would be this. There is I believe a fine line between a novel arrangement of a popular standard and venturing on to the slippery slope of over-arranging a piece. An example might be his take on Fascinating Rhythm which is broken down into various contrasting segments but without letting us hear the number played through as written,. The effect on the listener may be disconcerting so that the audience becomes distracted by the musical puzzle and fails to appreciate the ingenuity of the arrangement. However this may apply more to the older generation of listeners who enjoy nostalgic melodies as part of a theatre organ recital. Don Macdonald
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