Performing as a Pianist and Jazz Band in Yorkshire
My name is Eugene Portman and Yorkshire is where I first performed as a pianist. It is the county where I was born and it is where I first started learning the piano. Yorkshire acts like a magnet to me and I have returned numerous times to play the piano in many of its wonderful venues. There are the hotels and historic buildings in towns and cities such as Harrogate, York, Scarborough, and Whitby. Then we’ve got to mention the castles and country pubs in the Yorkshire Dales and North York Moors. Pianists and other musicians are in great demand in Yorkshire and there seems to be no shortage of work for them.
Yorkshire is divided into main areas and these are North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, West Yorkshire and East Riding of Yorkshire. Out of these I am more often than not, booked in North Yorkshire. Harrogate, Scarborough, York and Knaresborough provide me with a constant supply of events to perform at, and I also receive a number of bookings from Helmsley, Middlesbrough, Pickering, Richmond, Selby and Whitby
Weddings and Events
Yorkshire provides me with a variety of events from private parties to store openings, but most of the time I’m booked as a pianist for weddings. Yorkshire is very popular for weddings and I’m pleased that solo pianists are popular for these events.
Although I often perform as a solo pianist, I also offer a range of larger line-ups from duos (piano and bass or piano and vocals) right up to a full jazz band. Whatever the event I can offer a line-up that will suit both your budget and available space at the venue. The larger combinations can perform a wider variety of music and are perfect for larger events.
Don’t forget that, although I play for many weddings, I can also provide piano music for parties and corporate events.
The Music
The music I play is easy to listen to and is not ultra modern. I am influenced by jazz pianists such as Oscar Peterson, Monty Alexander, George Shearing, Erroll Garner and Dudley Moore. These musicians performed a melodic form of jazz which is easy to listen to. When I am playing background music I try and make my piano playing unobtrusive. However, I can turn up the gas if you are looking a something more lively. I try and make my music have a ‘feel good’ quality and hopefully it sits comfortably in any social occasion. I also hope my piano music will add sparkle to your wedding or event, without drowning conversation.
Working as a Sing-along Pianist in Yorkshire
I’ve notices that there are more and more enquiries coming in for me as a sing-along pianist. This sort of music is ideal for all types of events from peaky Blinders evenings to Wartime celebrations.
Please see Singalong Page for more information about the sing-along type of songs and also about the song sheets.
You can visit my HOME PAGE HERE
Here are some of the venues in Yorkshire where I perform as a pianist:
- York Marriot, Tadcaster Road, York YO24 1QQ
- Wentbridge House Hotel (The ) Wentbridge Pontefract West Yorkshire WF8 3JJ
- Allerton Castle Allerton Mauleverer HG5 0SE
- Cruck Barn, Craven Arms, Appletreewick Skipton, North Yorkshire BD23 6DA
- Hazlewood Castle, Hazlewood, Tadcaster LS24 9NJ
- Officer’s Mess, Alma Barracks, Catterick Garrison, Catterick, North Yorkshire
- Ripley Castle (East Wing), Harrogate HG1 3NA
- Rudding Park, Follifoot, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG3 1JH
- Sun Pavillion, Cornwall Road, Harrogate HG1 2PQ