Simon and Ruby

Simon Gledhill, from London, visited Ruby, Katie, and George in September 2010 during his 2010 concert tour of Australia.

Simon and I first met at the 1990 Indianapolis ATOS Convention and I fell under the spell of his music at that event, as did everyone else it seemed - a unanimous standing ovation!

Simon has continued to entrance his audiences around the world with a unique combination of superlative musicianship, sensitivity, and spontaneity. That last element being so very difficult to deliver when any musician is working from such meticulously thought through arrangements such as those which Simon creates.

However, just as this critical differentiator makes or breaks the most virtuosic of classical musicians who must work from original compositions, it is the realisation of this difference which I consider makes Simon a unique musician par excellence. One of Simon's advantages over the classical virtuoso is that as the creator of his arrangements, he can then choose to use them as a framework, rather than a straight jacketed construct which is 'parroted'.

The advantage, and disadvantage, of a theatre pipe organ or, in Ruby, a Virtual Theatre Pipe Organ, when compared to any other solo instrument, is that no two are identical, or too often, even very similar. Either in tonal resources, finishing, or acoustic setting. Consequently, to be able to create complex arrangements which can be reshaped on the fly, so to speak, takes a truly special gift. While many of the top theatre organists have this ability, or they can improvise with the best jazz musicians, Simon's talent is unique.

That talent is well and truly on display here when it is considered that there was zero rehearsal, very little organ setup, and basically, was "off the cuff". "Ian, have you got the recorder on? No? Then just turn it on and leave it on!" So, I did as I was told! Simon is as generous as he is brilliant.

Please enjoy Simon's music!

Recorded at Ruby's studio - January 2012

Ruby 3/44 Config 5

Come Fly With Me

Two Cigarettes In The Dark

Harry Warren

This is a fabulous 16 minute plus medley which includes:

Lullaby of Broadway, You'll Never Know, Remember Me, Serenade In Blue, 42nd Street.

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Demo Track Info

Simon at work and play!

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This site was last updated 26-Apr-2012