Final Blog from London Pianist for Hire

This blog is now closed. To check what I am up to, check my Facebook page and the news page of my website.

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Street Pianos Are Back

I came across a piano in Herne Hill train station recently, very playable and in tune, despite it's appearance. Not sure why but on the street pianos website, it makes no mention of a piano at this location.

Play me I'm yours is an art project where piano's are left in various locations around London and other cities around the world, to let the public do what they want to do with them

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Ronaldo's Piano

Footballer Cristiano Ronaldo has a grand piano at his home next to a huge picture of himself naked:

 
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4808881/Cristiano-Ronaldo-guests-can-admire-his-pianist-on-the-wall.html

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Alan Rusbridger plays the piano

Interesting review of a book written by Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger about how he spent 20 minutes a day trying to learn to play a very difficult piece by Chopin. He says it made him a better editor. I agree - playing piano is like weight-lifting for the brain. The development of both physical skill and expression at the same time really improves your memory, intuition, articulation, language, in all areas of life


 

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Jazz Lullaby

This is really important for jazz - it shows how the basics of jazz are rooted in the basics of music - and you can't get more basic than a mother singing to her baby. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21035103

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1LAOQKwD54)

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I had a great gig at Belvedere Restaurant last week - they've just refurbished the Yamaha upright piano they have there. I'm next to be playing there on Tuesday 24th and Monday 30th of July.

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Best jazz saxophonists in London, live at Shezan!

Recordings of saxophone / piano duo, live at Shezan in June 2012: Piano Saxophone Duo, restaurant residency in London by alexwindsor Wedding Pianist | Pianist for Hire | Jazz for Hire

Forthcoming solo piano gigs at Belvedere

Alex will be performing solo piano at the Belvedere Restaurant on the following dates in June 2012:

• Tonight (Tuesday 5th June)
• This Thursday (7th June)
• Wednesday 13th June
• Wednesday 20th June

If you can't make it, there is a video of Alex performing at the Belvedere here.

Music starts at 7pm and finishes at 11 - come and see if the music would suit your event or wedding.

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Saxophone Duo at Shezan now on Saturdays

The jazz duo residency at Shezan Restaurant now features an amazing jazz saxophonist every Saturday and incredible vocalist Maja Szymczyk every Friday. Come and check the music out to see if it is what you need for your event, or you can hear recordings of a recent performance with the saxophone/piano duo and the vocals-led duo on the websites below.

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Was honoured to perform with top jazz vocalist Maja Szymczyk to none other than Prince Harry on Friday night who'd popped into Shezan Restaurant for a curry and some fine jazz!!!

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Jazz Trio With Vocalist Maja Szymczyk

Jazz for Hire is now providing live jazz to Shezan's Restaurant in Knightsbridge every Friday and Saturday night, with fantastic jazz vocalist Maja Szymczyk accompanied by pianist Alex Windsor and double bass player on Saturdays only.

Come any Friday or Saturday to check them out and discuss arrangements for your event.

Vocals-led Jazz Trio by alexwindsormusic

(These recordings will be replaced with better quality ones soon.)

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Jazz vocals duo hire London UK

Jazz-For-Hire is now providing live jazz for Shezan's Restaurant - jazz piano/vocals duo featuring brilliant jazz singer Maja Szymczk [facebook], most Fridays or Saturdays.

Call Shezan's restaurant on 0207 584 9316 if you plan to come down. They also have live Indian Classical music every Thursdays.



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Gary Numan Songbook

Check the video of the event where I played Gary Numan tunes for the launch of an art exhibition at the Lisson Gallery, London in 2010.

I was an exhibit that featured the two artists serving free gin and tonic from the top of the piano whilst I played tunes from the Gary Numan songbook:



Audio recordings from the gig can be found here, including a 12 minute extended version of Are Friends Electric.

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Pianist for hire on Facebook

Catch up with the latest news from the London pianist for hire on the recently published Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Alex-Windsor-Pianist-for-Hire-London/34607042027

...and 'like', if you like !

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Gary Numan Songbook

In 2010 I was asked to play two hours of Gary Numan tunes for an event at the Lisson Gallery in Edgeware Road, London.

Below are some recordings from the event.



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New jazz performance recordings

I play improvised jazz piano at The Belvedere in Holland Park, west London, every week. Below are some recordings of a recent performance there:



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Residency at Tapestry, Mortlake

Brazilian restaurant and bar in Mortlake, South London - the Tapestry. I play here most weeks, usually on Friday.

Would be a good opportunity for anyone who wants to hear me play - you can come and just have a drink.

Check the photos below - I'm hoping to add footage soon.

More photos on my Flickr page.

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Weekly Residency | Pianist for Hire

Usually every week I play at the Belvedere restaurant in Holland Park.

Here is some footage of me playing there last night:



 


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Video of Theatre bar gig:

As promised, here is a video clip of me playing solo piano in the bar of a West-End theatre, just before people go in to see the show.

The quality's not great but anyway:



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Gig at West End Theatre Bar

My mate Nick depped this one out to me - I'm playing from 5 to 6.30 in the piano bar tomorrow night - Tuesday August 2nd.



Ghost the musical is showing there at the moment.

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