Available in Norwich, Great Yarmouth, King’s Lynn, Thetford or any other area of Norfolk.
Performing as a Pianist in Norfolk
My name is Eugene Portman and I think that Norfolk has a fantastic variety of interesting venues for the professional pianist. The area is very beautiful and I always loved seeing its many beauty spots. It has many venues scattered throughout the countryside and I have visited a lot of them at one time or another. This choice makes Norfolk the ideal wedding destination and a lot of my work in the area consists of playing the piano for weddings.
The Music
Norfolk has a thriving jazz scene and this has been a constant source of work for me as a pianist. I specialise in jazz piano and my style has developed through listening to the great jazz pianists of the past. These include Erroll Garner, George Shearing, Teddy Wilson and Oscar Peterson. I play all those great American songs that we all love to hear. The ones performed by great singers such as Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennet, and Jack Jones.
Because I play for so many weddings in the district, I have to be adept in other styles of music. It isn’t uncommon for me to have to play a different style of music for each part of the day. For instance, classical music is a popular choice for ceremonies, while jazz is definitely the in-thing for drinks receptions. Also, the wedding breakfast and the evening reception would require completely different styles of music.
Fortunately my repertoire is quite diverse and I can play pop, rock, classical, Latin, blues, and even sing-along.
My Work as a Sing-along Pianist in Norfolk
Due to a very recent demand for me as a sing-along pianist in Norfolk, I’ve had to play for a lot of Wartime and Cockney events. For these events, I arrive armed with song sheets and dressed as a typical pub pianist from the past. This consists of a bowler hat, red neckerchief, grandad shirt, waistcoat, pocket watch, etc. At the end of the day all you have to provide is some enthusiastic singers.
Please see the sing-along page for more information. Alternatively, you can visit my other site at www.uksingalongpianist.co.uk.
Line-ups
I mostly perform as a solo pianist in Norfolk and surrounding areas. However I can offer many different line-ups from duos and trios up to a five-piece jazz band. A line-up can be sorted out that will match both your budget and available space at the venue. Here is a full list of line-ups:
a) Duo – piano and vocals or piano and bass
b) Trio – piano, bass and vocals or piano, bass and drums
c) Quartet – piano, bass, drums and vocals or piano, bass, drums and sax
d) Five Piece Jazz Band – piano, bass, drums, sax and vocals
Whether you book me as a solo jazz pianist or the full jazz band, I will try and make the music entertaining. Furthermore, I will try and add sparkle to your event without drowning conversation.
Here are some of the many venues that have used my services as a pianist:
Hoste Arms, Market Place Burnham Market, Kings Lynn, Norfolk PE31 8HD
Lynford Hall Country House Hotel, Mundford, Nr Thetford IP26 5HW
Assembly House (The), Theatre St, Norwich NR2 1RQ
Rainthorpe Hall, Tasburgh NR15 1RQ
Dunston Hall, Ipswich Road, Norwich NR14 8PQ
Sprowston Manor Hotel & Country Club Wroxham Rd, Norwich NR7 8RP
The Fishermans Return, The Lane, Winterton-on-Sea, NR29 4BN
I travel all over Norfolk as a pianist. Here are some of the towns and villages I cover:
- Acle
- Attleborough
- Aylmerton
- Aylsham
- Bacton
- Banham
- Blakeney
- Bodham
- Brancaster
- Brundall
- Burnham Market
- Caister-On-Sea
- California
- Cawston
- Cley next the Sea
- Coltishall
- Costessey
- Cringleford
- Cromer
- Dereham
- Diss
- Ditchingham
- Downham Market
- Easton
- Fakenham
- Feltwell
- Gayton
- Gissing
- Great Yarmouth
- Happisburgh
- Harleston
- Heacham
- Hemsby
- Holt
- Hunstanton
- Itteringham
- Kettlestone
- King’s Lynn
- Loddon
- Long Stratton
- Ludham
- Mundesley
- Narborough
- Newport
- North Walsham
- Norwich
- Overstrand
- Sheringham
- Snettisham
- Swaffham
- Thetford
- Thornham
- Watton
- Wells-next-the-Sea
- Winterton-on-Sea
- Wroxham
- Wymondham