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CD Reviewed by Dirk Binneman

"Salon Music has been a driving force in light classical music in Gauteng for some time. In Cape Town, unfortunately, we have to make do with their polished recordings by some of South Africa’s leading classical musicians.

This recording is hip and sexy! Not a description which one easily associates with a pipe organ or an organist. But the glamorous cover picture of Ockie already breaks through these stereotypical views. The choice of material is ever pleasing and wide ranging. Some organ stalwarts, like a surprising arrangement of Bach’s great Toccata and Fugue in D minor, are mixed with contemporary songs, like a cheesy French translation of the country song You Needed Me which Ann Murray made such a hit in the 70’s (strange how familiar music can sound so posh in translation). Have to say that D’Adam’s O Holy Night is a bit much, do we really have to have another version of this cliché. The arrangements overall are fresh and full of bite and explore also other musical influences like jazz and latino. In most of the tracks Ockie is quite happy to accompany – piano, violin, flute, voice and choir! But when he gets the chance to show his mettle he does so with aplomb. He plays with solid technique and great musicality and the recording quality is first-rate. The choirs are may be too closely miked seeing that they unnecessarily overpower the accompaniment in their tracks.

From this recording it is obvious that Ockie takes the classical cross-over genre seriously, and one should when it is presented in such an elegant and attractive way. This is a CD which my Winding Down listeners would love, so listen out for it."

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