Welcome to the first of two December editions of the award-winning Community Keyboards - celebrating all that's best from the King of Instruments in all its guises - from theatre and classical organs to the latest in digital keyboard technology and beyond.

On this programme - some seasonal favourites old and new with music from ANDREW VARLEY, ARNOLD LOXAM, HECTOR OLIVERA, PETER LISH, GLYN MADDEN, HOWARD BEAUMONT, SIMION GLEDHILL and PENNY WEEDON-KERR

As mentioned during the programme, my broadcasting colleague ALAN ASHTON will be hanging up his headphones after 50 years on air hosting organ and keyboard music programmes.  You can hear his final edition, plus the surprise tributes from colleagues and friends http://organradio.com

A special extra November edition of the programme and an opportunity to hear the superb 3/12 Wurlitzer in the Victoria Hall at Saltaire near Shipley in West Yorkshire. Many people will know that the organ originally started life in the Gaumont Cinema in Oldham but after its removal from there in 1961 has has three additional homes across the pennines before its installation at Saltaire 22 years ago. We were lucky be able to record a concert on Remembrance Sunday presented by the COS Northern Society starring NICHOLAS MARTIN B.E.M. at the console but on this occasion our microphones were sited in the balcony to capture the nuances of what is regarded to be one the areas finest theatre organs.  

If you would like to hear the ex Oldham Wurlitzer live - organist Michael Wooldridge will be entraining next month with no doubt some seasonal favourites on Sunday December 12th at 2.30pm. for details of that telephone 0845 400 2208 after 7pm or visit www.cinema-organs.co.uk/tickets. 

Recording by kind permission of the artist and the COS Northern District Committee, using Zoom H4N Pro recorder, additional Rode Microphones and no post-processing or enhancements.

Welcome to the second of two November editions of the award-winning Community Keyboards - celebrating all that's best from the King of Instruments in all its guises - from theatre and classical organs to the latest in digital keyboard technology and beyond.

On this programme we'll have a chance to hear the Gala Opening Concert (9th October 2021) of the ex Pyramid Odeon Sale/Oldham Bluecoat School Christie organ, now installed in St Mary Lowe House Catholic Church in St Helens on Merseyside.  

Our outside broadcast microphones captured the beautiful acoustic of the Christie in its new home as we join the audience for an hour of contrasting sounds and styles from guest NIGEL OGDEN, who chats with me throughout about the project.

Welcome to the first of two November editions of the award-winning Community Keyboards - celebrating all that's best from the King of Instruments in all its guises - from theatre and classical organs to the latest in digital keyboard technology and beyond.

On this programme - a mixed bag of bits and bobs this time around, including our regular chat with Andy Carvill later as he tries to come to the rescue on behalf of another listener in "Ask Andy", we’ll have the winner of the recent keyboard forum challenge, letter N in our vintage organs A to Z and a chance to hear tracks from some artistes who have not been featured on the show for quite some time!

Music from JOHN SENG, BUDDY COLE TRIO, LEW WILLIAMS, DAN BELLOMY, HUGH WALLINGTON, PHIL KJELSALL and JIM WATSON

Welcome to the second of two October editions of the award-winning Community Keyboards - celebrating all that's best from the King of Instruments in all its guises - from theatre and classical organs to the latest in digital keyboard technology and beyond.

On this programme we'll have a chance to hear the Grand Carrillon of St Mary Lowe House Catholic Church in St Helens, plus a sneak peek ahead of the Gala Opening Concert of the ex Pyramid Odeon Sale/Oldham Bluecoat School Christie organ.  There's music from ALLAN MURRAY, JAMES CROMPTON, MICHAEL HOLMES and URSULA CREBER and we hear from ANDY CARVILL as he helps another listener with a musical dilemma.  All that plus letter M of our A to Z of vintage electronic organs, a catch up with TONY STACE and ANDREW NIX at their recent Top Note Event in Harrogate and the latest winner of the online TDP Keyboard Music Forum Challenge.

Yet another packed hour of great music and chat.

Welcome to the first of two October editions of the award-winning Community Keyboards - celebrating all that's best from the King of Instruments in all its guises - from theatre and classical organs to the latest in digital keyboard technology and beyond.

On this programme I meet and chat with DR CHRIS STANBURY at the Top Note Event at Cedar Court Hotel in Harrogate.  Chris will be playing music on his Yamaha Stagea and EL900

A special edition of the programme featuring music and conversation with JEAN MARTYN from the music lounge of the new Jean Martyn Blackpool Hotel.

Welcome to the second of two September editions of the award-winning Community Keyboards - celebrating all that's best from the King of Instruments in all its guises - from theatre and classical organs to the latest in digital keyboard technology and beyond.

On this programme it's concert time and an opportunity to hear part of some never-before-broadcast tour recordings undertaken in 1994 and 1997 by popular organist, former resident organist at Sandford Park in Poole, PAUL ROBERTS.  Over the years Paul has archived unique cassette recordings given to him by theatre proprietors following appearances at their venues.  These are one-off items which were provided for critical self-analysis only and as a momento of each concert.  They have largely remained unplayed and stored in cases until Paul asked me if I was able to digitise them.  The result is included in today's programme with extracts from the Riviera Theatre in Chicago and the Pittsburgh Theatre Organ Society.

There is also music from ANGELA JOHNSON on Yamaha Clavinova, HARRY STONEHAM on Lowrey, the recent winners JOHN TAYLOR and DAVID HAMORY from the TDP Music Challenge, plus ANDY CARVILL joins us to help another listener with a musical dilemma in our popular "ASK ANDY" feature

As always....a packed programme from the organ and keyboard world!

Welcome to the first of two September editions of the award-winning Community Keyboards - celebrating all that's best from the King of Instruments in all its guises - from theatre and classical organs to the latest in digital keyboard technology and beyond.

Music on this programme from:SIMON PRESTON, DR FRANCIS JACKSON, FIONA PACQUETTE, JOHN BEESLEY, CHRIS PRICE, WAYNE MARSHALL and JOHNATHAN SCOTT.

I'll be talking with special guests JAMES DAWSON, FIONA PACQUETTE and MARTIN RENSHAW who together have produced a feature-length documentary entitled "Organ Stops - Saving the King of Instruments".  It's a fascinating story and the documentary is now available on a pay-per-view basis at https://vimeo.com/ondemand/organstops.  There's also a free trailer to view.

Welcome to the second of two August editions of the award-winning Community Keyboards - celebrating all that's best from the King of Instruments in all its guises - from theatre and classical organs to the latest in digital keyboard technology and beyond.

On this programme it's concert time and our microphones join the live audience at the Victoria Hall, Saltaire, where organists DECLAN POOLE and DAVID LOWE are in concert at the mighty Wurlitzer formerly in the Gaumont Cinema in Oldham.  Sit back and enjoy the music from a seat in the auditorium perspective.  During the "interval" we also catch up with Andy Carvill who solves another listener musical dilemma in our popular ASK ANDY slot.

There is also music from ROBERT WOLFE who celebrates 40 years at the Thursford Collection in Norfolk, a chance to hear the Saltaire Wurlitzer in its previous home at the Ritz Ballroom in Brighouse in the hands of LEN RAWLE MBE, MARK LAFLIN and RICHARD HILLS