The \u201cPlaySchool\u201d and \u201cPlayaway\u201d pianist was Jonathan Cohen, a genial man, who had perfect pitch which was 440. He said it excruciating to play over in Europe as they sometimes used a slightly different frequency. <\/p>\n
John Howell<\/strong><\/h3>\n\u201cPlaySchool\u201d generally had a piano with the occasional addition of a celeste. Patrick Harvey was a regular visitor as was Bill Blezard. I remember Jonathan Cohen (pronounced "Co-Hen" throughout one studio day!) more in relation to "Playaway" when he was joined by Dill Katz on electric bass.<\/p>\n
Anyone remember Brian Cant telling the tale that "Binky Blake’s bike’s back brake’s broke….."?<\/p>\n
Mike Cotton<\/strong><\/h3>\nRemember the incident when Brian Cant inadvertently touched a female presenter where he shouldn’t have done and the look of surprise when the pre booked "Tech Ops" party trouped aboard "The Waverley\u201d en route to Southend?<\/p>\n
Geoff Hawkes<\/strong><\/h3>\nJonathan Cohen seemed to be playing by ear and not from a music sheet, though I’ve no doubt he had one in front of him as the MD – if you could call him that. He always looked a bit embarrassed when peering over the top of the piano\/ sound baffles as though you’d caught him sitting on the toilet. That’s how it struck me anyway. <\/p>\n
Patrick Harvey was another that I remember well. Frank Wilkins liked to wind him up mercilessly sometimes but poor Patrick, very much the gentleman, was not amused.<\/p>\n
There was another pianist called Tom who worked on various shows too, but perhaps not as often as the others. Maybe he was one of the piano tuners, I can’t be sure. The one I recall from more recent times was the Scottish guy, Alex and we discussed temporary deafness and earwax problems and the difficulty of getting treatment (not a happy subject) when I last met him a year or two ago.(from 2015)<\/p>\n
No, I don’t remember yet the Brian Cant tongue twister but would like to hear the full version if anyone knows it. It would amuse some of the children I’m in contact with as a reading helper at the local school,<\/p>\n
Tony Crake<\/strong><\/h3>\nThere was a Drummer (ex military? always wore a blue shirt and possibly a tie?) called (possibly Don Lawson.<\/p>\n
Alan Stokes<\/strong><\/h3>\nThere was a Saxophonist\/Clarinettist, again can’t remember the name, who I see now appearing with the John Wilson Orchestra.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
What musicians were there in the group? Someone would have had a swannee whistle if nothing else! Philip Tyler, David Brunt, Geoff Hawkes The \u201cPlaySchool\u201d and \u201cPlayaway\u201d pianist was Jonathan Cohen, a genial man, who had perfect pitch which was … Continue reading
Remember the incident when Brian Cant inadvertently touched a female presenter where he shouldn’t have done and the look of surprise when the pre booked "Tech Ops" party trouped aboard "The Waverley\u201d en route to Southend?<\/p>\n
Geoff Hawkes<\/strong><\/h3>\nJonathan Cohen seemed to be playing by ear and not from a music sheet, though I’ve no doubt he had one in front of him as the MD – if you could call him that. He always looked a bit embarrassed when peering over the top of the piano\/ sound baffles as though you’d caught him sitting on the toilet. That’s how it struck me anyway. <\/p>\n
Patrick Harvey was another that I remember well. Frank Wilkins liked to wind him up mercilessly sometimes but poor Patrick, very much the gentleman, was not amused.<\/p>\n
There was another pianist called Tom who worked on various shows too, but perhaps not as often as the others. Maybe he was one of the piano tuners, I can’t be sure. The one I recall from more recent times was the Scottish guy, Alex and we discussed temporary deafness and earwax problems and the difficulty of getting treatment (not a happy subject) when I last met him a year or two ago.(from 2015)<\/p>\n
No, I don’t remember yet the Brian Cant tongue twister but would like to hear the full version if anyone knows it. It would amuse some of the children I’m in contact with as a reading helper at the local school,<\/p>\n
Tony Crake<\/strong><\/h3>\nThere was a Drummer (ex military? always wore a blue shirt and possibly a tie?) called (possibly Don Lawson.<\/p>\n
Alan Stokes<\/strong><\/h3>\nThere was a Saxophonist\/Clarinettist, again can’t remember the name, who I see now appearing with the John Wilson Orchestra.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/h1>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
What musicians were there in the group? Someone would have had a swannee whistle if nothing else! Philip Tyler, David Brunt, Geoff Hawkes The \u201cPlaySchool\u201d and \u201cPlayaway\u201d pianist was Jonathan Cohen, a genial man, who had perfect pitch which was … Continue reading
There was a Drummer (ex military? always wore a blue shirt and possibly a tie?) called (possibly Don Lawson.<\/p>\n
Alan Stokes<\/strong><\/h3>\nThere was a Saxophonist\/Clarinettist, again can’t remember the name, who I see now appearing with the John Wilson Orchestra.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/h1>\n
<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
What musicians were there in the group? Someone would have had a swannee whistle if nothing else! Philip Tyler, David Brunt, Geoff Hawkes The \u201cPlaySchool\u201d and \u201cPlayaway\u201d pianist was Jonathan Cohen, a genial man, who had perfect pitch which was … Continue reading
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