Review Centre: Specialist Musicians

"Preview: Allan Stewart’s Big Big Variety Show at the King’s Theatre, Edinburgh. It certainly is a small world. Quite extraordinary whom one can meet by chance, when travelling far from home. Ken Scott and I are currently enjoying an epic adventure on board the Silver Shadow cruise ship, circumnavigating South America. On this two month Grand Voyage from Fort Lauderdale,Florida, we sailed via Key West through the Panama Canal south to Ecuador, Peru, Chile, to the other British isles – the Falkland Islands – and north again to Uruguay and then the Parisian-inspired, tango dancing city of Buenos Aires. Joining the ship here as we set sail towards Brazil was a guest entertainer, Sarah Chandler, a charming young British Saxophonist. Her stylish, sassy, show attracted a large audience for her repertoire of jazz classics such as Sway and Stranger on the Shore. While in Rio during the Carnaval weekend, we met Sarah for a chat over cool cocktails on the Pool Deck. 92F in the shade! Her internationally renowned professional career on board cruise ships began around seven years ago. While appearing in a production of Calamity Jane in Margate, she heard by sheer chance that P & O cruises were urgently requiring a Sax player to replace an injured musician. Sarah was soon jetting off from the south of England to Barbados to embark on the Arcadia for a Caribbean voyage. This was the start of a successful career both on land (Sydney Opera House, Royal Albert Hall) and at sea across the globe. (Silversea, P&O, Cunard, Carnival and Holland America). She studied the saxophone, piano, cello, flute and clarinet, graduating from Canterbury University with a Masters in composition and BA in music performance. Performing the alto and soprano sax is her true passion, blending a repertoire of jazz, classical, pop and funk. An exciting and innovative venture has been Sarah’s recent creation of a female Sax band, Saxation. This quirky quartet presents a lively, tightly choreographed show. Although established in 2014, they have already performed on board Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth. The good news is that you don’t have to board a ship to see Saxation on stage. Sarah together with her super sax players, Claire McGarahan, Stacy Docherty and Sophie Burk are appearing in Allan Stewart’s Big Big Variety Show at the King’s Theatre, Edinburgh from 8-11 April. Allan Stewart is perhaps best known to Edinburgh audiences for his brilliant portrayal as Dame in the annual Pantomime over the Festive season. The Variety show will also feature his fellow panto stars, Grant Stott and Andy Gray, comedians, Kev Orkian and Jo Caulfield, the McRoberts Brothers and a classic Big Band. You may wonder why and how Saxation are invited to take part in Allan Stewart’s Variety show. Flash back to 2007 when “little Sarah” was experiencing her debut on the Arcadia; a certain Allan Stewart was on board performing his comedy and music cabaret, in which Sarah was a backing singer. Another serendipitous moment, and they have worked together many times since. Sarah disembarked on the third day in Rio to fly off to Peru to join another cruise ship. But in six weeks or so, she will be heading to Edinburgh with the three other Saxation girls to strut their stuff on the King’s Theatre stage. Having seen Sarah’s solo show on the Silver Shadow, and also the You Tube video of Saxation quartet, this is sure to be a glamorous, sexy, super-Saxy performance. Catch them if you can!"

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"I was chosen to appear on c4 come dine with me in april. It was a Carribean theamed evening and I thought what better way to entertain than to have a steel band. Gary was amazing. It was like we were really in Barbados. I honestly believe that it was because of his amazing performance that I went on to win. Thank you so much gary. "

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"Thank you for the beautiful music that you played at my son's wedding. There were so many compliments made and they all said how beautiful the Harp sounded. "

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"Laura was absolutely fantastic from start to finish. Her communication was excellent, and she tailored her set perfectly to what we wanted. Thank you for making our day even more special."

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"I just wanted to say a huge thank you to Arianna for last night, she was fantastic and the event was a huge success. We have had some great feedback from the event and the client was extremely happy."

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"I just want to say a massive thank you Lizzie! You were absolutely amazing, and nobody has stopped talking about you since and how you made our night!"

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"Hello Spud Thank you so much for playing at Jacks funeral - he loved the pipes and would have appreciated you doing that for him, thanks "

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"Excellent - Oleg was extremely punctual, pleasant and professional, he played everything we had asked for, and he was a huge hit with our guests. I would definitely recommend him."

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"Band were very good and our customers loved them!! Thank you Jackie and Neil"

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"I was lucky and very happy to have you playing at my 60th birthday garden party in Potters Bar in May. Now one of my guests is asking me for your contact details in order to request you to play at a soire!"

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"Thank you soooooo much for being a great addition to our hen party, the music and playlist were incredible and loved how you got involved and got everyone dancing! Was perfect!!! "

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"Zoe is a very talented and professional harp player who performed at our wedding at Woolverstone Hall on the 25th May 2024. Zoe played a range of songs we had chosen for our ceremony and the music was beautiful. Many of our guests commented on how wonderful and friendly she was and enjoyed the mixture of songs played too from classical to pop culture. I would not hesitate in booking Zoe again for a future event. "

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"Jermaine entertained our guest whilst they ate. He played a mixture of old and new, catering for everyone. It was thoroughly enjoyed by all Thank you for adding to our special day. "

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"Sebastian was absolutely brilliant, from start to finish.. lovely guy and amazing on the bongos! He accompanied our dj and sax player and they worked together so well! This guy is the best and made our wedding reception one to remember for many years to come. Thank you so much for creating that memory !! "

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"Ruth is a amazing musician, she also very polite and professional our guest loved her music at our wedding"

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