Pipeorgan Presentations

Fulton Blue
Dan Bellomy
At Warnors Theatre

Available on CD
CD $17

UK Customers Only (PPD): CD 12 GBP

To hear samples of the tracks on this cd, click on the track names below.
(The player will continue to play each sample in sequence after your selection - click the pause or close button on the player to stop it)

Fulton Blue
Dan Bellomy at Warnors Theatre

It was October 1983 when I walked into Warnors Theatre in Fresno for the first time. It was one of those places where I felt immediately at home - especially in my first meeting with the most prominent resident of the theatre - the 4/14 Robert Morton Theatre Organ! The instrument and I fell in sync with each other instantaneously and have spent many hours in blissful harmony over the past 18 years. I love this instrument, the fabulous theatre it calls home, and most of all I love making music here.

This pipe organ is one of the most amenable for playing the swing and jazzy styles I enjoy so much. It can truly "cut the mustard" when I ask it to swing and blast like the Basic Band. It will also behave beautifully when I ask for soft and lovely sounds for a lush theatre organ style ballad.

I could not be more pleased to present this set of sound in the world premiere compact disc recording of the Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad Morton at Warnors Theatre!

ABOUT THE MUSIC
Track one happened totally by chance. Our recording engineer was making last minute microphone adjustments and asked to hear some of the loudest sounds and registrations I would be using. I pushed a few pistons and played the first things that came to mind. The result was a "powerful message," as someone said at the session. Upon listening to the replay I decided that this meandering made a great "curtain raiser" for this set-thus “Morton Madness”!

Musical theatre has always been a source of material sounding as though it had been written for the theatre organ. “Why Should I Wake Up” is a lovely ballad from the Kander & Ebb musical “Cabaret” and allows me to explore some softer sounds from this versatile instrument.

This is the type of music this instrument just loves to play! “C-Jam Blues” is a basic blues pattern. It is also a lesson in improvisation and is not contrived or planned with the exception of the basic harmonic pattern. It is truly "in the mood of the moment" and hopefully as enjoyable a moment for the listener as it was for the musician!

“Once In a While” is a standard that survives the ages and is great fun to play in a traditional theatre organ style. There is a momentary trek into a more contemporary feel but it all comes home to the soft and peaceful.

“Paper Moon” is a swing standard. It is another of those oldies that lends itself so well to the pipe organ. It begins like a small jazz combo and then builds to the sound of the mighty Bill Basie Band.

“Brassman's Holiday” was written by Billy May and originally recorded by Billy and his big band. I did my own thing allowing the Morton to sing its own powerful message-loud, fast, and great fun!

For many reasons, “A Chorus Line” will forever be a special show to me. The poignant ballad “What I Did For Love” is offered here for your pleasure and for my memories.

“Falling In Love With Love” is a standard I decided to give a big band/jazz waltz feeling. I hope your musical sensibilities enjoy it as much as I enjoy playing it.

“Quiet Time” is exactly that-a ballad for contemplation. The melody came to me years ago under a completely different set of circumstances and survives as a moment of serenity.

“Lullaby of Birdland” is a George Shearing tune that swings sweetly and forcefully in this arrangement.

Meridith Willson probably had no idea that this melody from his “Music Man score would so beautifully fit the theatre organ. “Till There Was You” is a memorable ballad from that show and gives the Warnors Morton a chance to breathe.

“Fulton Blue” is 100% improvisation. It was a moment in time. Again based on a blues pattern, this bit of bombastic jazz glory is a perfect closer for this set.

-Don Bellomy

ABOUT THE INSTRUMENT
Robert Morton theatre organs have been described as sounding like a Sousa marching band. If this is true, the 4-manual 14-rank Robert Morton in the Fresno Warnors (Pantages) Theatre must also include some of Stan Kenton and Duke Ellington's big bands as well.

Installed when the theatre was new in 1928, the Warnors Morton has never been known for its musical subtlety. The organ is installed under the theatre's stage (the last originally so-installed in North America.) Alexander Pantages wanted his pipe organ sound to come from the same locale as his pit musicians. Pity the poor musicians who have had to sit in front of the Warnors swell shades!

The organ is voiced on fairly heavy wind pressure with 20" for the 16' Tuba, English Horn and Diaphone. This organ is also fairly "violent" with shear sound pressure and vibrations. Keeping this Morton in tune for much more than two or three selections is at best a trying task. There are also design flaws in some of the louder reed pipes that contribute to slipping out of tunc. Regardless, this Morton is an astounding vehicle for Dan's style!

-Tom Delay, Curator

THANK YOU
Thank you to Frank Caglia, Sam Martinez and the staff of Warnors Theatre without whose blessing and help this project would have not materialized.

My dear friend and organ builder extraordinaire Tom DeLay was indispensable in bringing this music to you. He is without doubt the unsung hero of anything positive you feel about this instrument. For his tireless effort in this project and his undying support of my way of treating this organ I owe him much more than another trip to the hofbrau!

William 0. Schlotter was our recording engineer and has proven yet again his pristine ability to digitally capture the sound of this or any other pipe organ. Thanks for your diligent effort Bill-well done!

Thank you dear listener for your support of this instrument and my music. I will always look forward to "next time!"

—Dan Bellomy