Performing as a Pianist in Hertfordshire
My name is Eugene Portman and Hertfordshire provides me with a regular supply of work as a pianist. Like the other Home Counties, it is very popular with Londoners wishing to have their wedding away from the throng of city life. Another reason the area is so popular for weddings is that there is an incredible choice of fantastic venues.
A lot of my work in Hertfordshire consists of playing the piano for weddings, but I also provide music for other types of events.
The Music
Hertfordshire has a good jazz scene and this has always been a constant source of work for me as a pianist. Also, I’m at home playing all the great jazz standards and songs made famous by Frank Sinatra, The Rat Pack, Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, and Fred Astaire. Moreover, my piano style has developed by studying the great pianists of the past. For example, some of the grat i’ve listened to are Erroll Garner, Oscar Peterson, George Shearing, and Monty Alexander.
Seeing as most of his work as a pianist in Hertfordshire is for weddings, I have to be able to play all styles from classical to rock. I can provide music that is suitable for every part of the wedding day, from the ceremony right through to the evening reception. In fact, I can play a wide range of music from Einaudi, Debussy, Chopin to The Beatles, Gary Barlow, and Christina Perri.
My Work as a Sing-along Pianist in Hertfordshire
There has been a surge of enquiries from the Hertfordshire area to book me as a sing-along pianist. Surprisingly, some of these enquiries have been to provide this sort of music for weddings. However, sing-along entertainment is more popular for Wartime celebrations, Cockney nights and Peaky Blinders themed evenings.
When I perform for a sing-along evening, I provide all the song sheets and I also dress as a typical Cockney pianist. This consists of Bowler hat, waistcoat, grandad shirt, neckerchief, Abert watch chain, etc.
Please visit my sing-along page for more information. Alternatively you can visit my other website at www.uksingalongpianist.co.uk.
Line-ups
Most of my engagements in the Hertfordshire area are as a solo pianist, but I can provide a variety of line-ups right up to a five-piece jazz band. Having this variety of line-ups can help you choose the right size of ensemble to fit both budget and available space.
Whether you book me as a solo pianist or the full jazz band, you will find that I try to make the music enjoyable and entertaining. I try and make my music it sit comfortably in any situation and add colour to your event without drowning conversation.
The Grand Piano Shell
Very few venues in Hertfordshire have a piano and pianists usually have to use a digital piano. Digital pianos are excellent and sound superb. Alas, there is one slight problem in that people often prefer to see something that looks like a real piano rather than a keyboard on a stand. I have the answer with my baby grand piano shell. As it’s name suggests, this is a shell in the shape of a baby grand piano that contains a digital piano. The result is eye-catching and acts as a centerpiece for any event.
I charge an extra £80 on top of my normal fee for the baby grand piano shell and it can be set up anywhere.
Here are some of the venues in Hertfordshire where I have performed as a pianist:
Cromwell Hotel (The), High St, Old Town Stevenage, Stevenage SG1 3AZ
Hatfield House AL9 5NQ
Moor Park Golf Club, Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire WD3 1QN
Ramada Hemel Hempstead/St Albans, Redbourn AL3 7AF
The Broadway Hotel, The Broadway, Letchworth SG6 3NZ
Barrington Hall, Dunmow Rd, Hatfield Broad Oak, Bishop’s Stortford CM22 7LE
Brocket Hall, Welwyn AL8 7XG
I have been hired as a pianist in many of Hertfordshire’s towns including:
- Watford
- Saint Albans
- Hemel Hempstead
- Stevenage
- Cheshunt
- Welwyn Garden City
- Bishop’s Stortford
- Hoddesdon
- Letchworth
- Hitchin
- Hatfield
- Borehamwood
- Harpenden
- Hertford
- Potters Bar
- Ware
- Bushey
- Royston
- Tring
- Rickmansworth
- Chorleywood
- Welwyn-Codicote
- Baldock
- Radlett
- Kings Langley
- Buntingford
- Redbourn
- Bovingdon
- Cuffley
- Knebworth
- Shenley
- Wheathampstead
- Brookmans Park
- Harmer Green
- Tewin
- Markyate