OrganFax News

New Christmas CD

Thursday 5th December

Scottish Organist Aaron Hawthorne has released a super new CD of Christmas Favourites.

Recorded on the fabulous Wurlitzer at Howden-le-Wear, the CD has lots of festive solos from Aaron, plus special guests including a choir and also the voice of The Organist Entertains, Nigel Ogden.  

To see more about the CD and to order your copy, visit Aaron's Website (link opens in new tab)

Video of Len Rawle MBE Tribute Afternoon

Thursday 5th December

A couple of weeks ago there was a very special afternoon in celebration and memory of the life of master musician Len Rawle, who passed away a year ago. 

Len had a huge impact on the organ world internationally, being largely responsible for the design of Yamaha Electones for many years, including the popular D85 and the FX/FS/FE range, and also saved over 40 theatre pipe organs. 

The 2 hour long event was put together by Len's long term fan and friend, organist Michael Wooldridge, with guest appearances from fellow organists Byron Jones and Andy Quin, oration from Richard Moore and Richard Cole, and photo and video memories shared by the Woking Wurlitzer Team.

If you would like to enjoy this informative and musical celebration of Len's life, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2V9LgBKrqM (link opens in new tab)

For more information about future events at Woking visit www.wokingwurlitzer.co.uk (link opens in new tab)

Gary Head Joins OrganFax

Thursday 5th December

We are delighted to welcome Gary Head to the ranks of players with Advanced Pages here on OrganFax.

Gary was in the trade many years ago but then moved away from playing shows whilst his family were growing up.  He is now back playing concerts of popular music on his Yamaha Genos2. 

For more information and booking details visit his OrganFax page.  (link opens in new window)

Congratulations to Rod Pooley and The Drawtones

Saturday 26th October

After a sell out performance at the world-famous Ronnie Scotts Jazz Club on Friday 18th October, The Drawtones are now about to record a new single of the George Harrison hit “My Sweet Lord” with the fabulous London Community Gospel Choir.

The recording takes place at Brookdale House Studios London on Friday 8th November, with the new single to be released as a download soon.

Rod Pooley returns from Germany with some exciting news!

Monday 7th October

You will have enjoyed hearing Rod playing shows on the Korg Pa5X and other Korg products over the past year, and this will continue with Rod featuring Korg products in his set up. 

This past week Rod appeared at Das Tastenfestival, a major keyboard and organ music holiday in Germany, at which Rod went down a storm with the enthusiastic crowd.

Whilst he was there, Rod has struck a deal with the head of Bohm Organs in Germany, so the exciting news is that in 4 weeks time Rod will receive his Bohm Sempra SE30 Pro Lib 3.0 Organ.

From January 2025 Rod’s concert set up will be a Bohm Sempra and Korg Pa5X.

Rod and Rhohima now live in Grantham so getting to any part of the UK is now much easier.  For concert bookings please contact Rod via email at rodpooley@me.com

For upcoming concert dates, visit Rod's_OrganFax_Page (link opens in new window)

CASIO Launches Entry-Level Digital Pianos with Grand Piano-Like Realism

Thursday 19th September

Casio have released two new entry-level models, as part of the distinguished CELVIANO digital piano series.  First the AP-300, with its classic design, and next the AP-S200, which features a sleek, lightweight profile.  These two new models allow you to easily experience the natural touch and realistic sound of a grand piano combined with an elegant, cabinet design.

At Casio, the brand statement for our Electronic Musical Instrument is: "Sound for Style", which reflects their dedication to creating new musical experiences, cultures, and lifestyles for everyone.  The CELVIANO series exemplifies this approach by combining the timeless elegance and craftsmanship of traditional grand pianos, with modern cutting-edge technology in order to provide a fresh and innovative piano experience.

The brand-new AP-300 and AP-S200 models have inherited the advanced acoustic and sound source technologies from our higher-end CELVIANO models, continuing to deliver the immersive experience of a grand piano.  The unique acoustic design allows for sound from the speaker to naturally diffuse outwards from various parts of the cabinet, which creates a rich, expansive audio experience that’s similar to the resonance of a grand piano.  Both of these models feature the Smart Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard, which features delicate touch sensitivity that helps capture the subtle nuances of your musical performance, just like a grand piano.

From a design perspective, the AP-300 stands out thanks to the gold accents on the logo and key cover, which exude a sense of elegance and sophistication.  The AP-S200 is incredibly slim at only 299mm deep, so it presents a lightweight and unobtrusive design.  This makes it easy to integrate into any living space without taking up too much space, allowing you to effortlessly incorporate playing the piano into your daily routine.

In addition, both models come with the WU-BT10 Wireless MIDI & Audio Adaptor, which enables Bluetooth connectivity for use with smart devices.  By downloading the dedicated CASIO MUSIC SPACE app, you can easily switch between different tones and adjust various other settings.  You can also enjoy playing along with your favourite music by making use of the piano's high-quality built-in audio system.

■Unique Acoustic Design for Creating Realistic Natural Sound

The AP-300 incorporates the same core principles of our high-end Grandphonic Sound System to achieve the realistic, natural sound of a grand piano. The sound is designed to disperse from the speakers and reflect off optimised materials that have been placed at optimised angles within the cabinet, which creates a rich and immersive audio experience. The AP-S200 combines this advanced acoustic concept along with its unique open design and slim profile.

■Beautiful Grand Piano Tones with Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source

The Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source produces the expressive power of a grand piano, with tones that change depending on the playing style and the passage of time. This perfectly captures the seamless transition of sound from the moment it is played until it fades away, including changes in the volume and tone. This sound source faithfully produces the rich, beautiful tones of historic grand pianos.

■Realistic Touch with Compact Smart Scaled Hammer Action 

The Smart Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard produces the natural touch and feel of a grand piano. The action mechanism is based on the weight of the hammers and changes the level of touch sensitivity according to how strongly the keys are played. The key response is digitally simulated and meticulously designed for each key, which provides a highly realistic playing experience.

■CASIO MUSIC SPACE App for Easy Access to Piano Settings

By utilising the included WU-BT10 Wireless MIDI & Audio Adaptor, you can connect the piano to your smart device via a Bluetooth® connection and easily adjust tones and settings such as the keyboard’s touch response, by using the dedicated CASIO MUSIC SPACE app. You can also play along to built-in orchestral tracks or use the piano as a Bluetooth® speaker so you can play your favourite songs while performing at the same time.

Pricing and Availability

The Casio CELVIANO AP-300 and AP-S200 are shipping now. They are available at music retailers nationwide, and online at http://www.casio.co.uk/emi.

● AP-300 (Black, Brown, White) £1,249 RRP*

● AP-S200 (Black, Brown, White) £999 RRP*

*RRP’s are suggested & guideline prices only.