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| Sunday, 26 June 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Happenings/People A lyrical pianist by Mahes Perera
Popular piano music artistry unlike in the early years is rarely heard on concert stages. Solo pianists today are more or less confined to hotel lobbies and if you are one of those who find complete relaxation in listening to piano artistry, then drop in at the Colombo Plaza this Tuesday evening and enjoy the piano stylings of Shane Blok. Shane tells us that he has been at the Colombo Plaza for the past five years playing regularly in the evenings as well as at lunch time. Besides his Tuesday date, he is featured on Fridays too playing from 5.30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. His lunch time date is on Wednesdays and you can enjoy his artistry from 11.45 a.m. to 1.45 p.m. Repertoire wise Shane favours the ballads of famous singers of yesteryear like Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Englebert Humperdinck, Elvis Presley, The Beatles and is geared to play requests from music lovers. Besides, he enjoys playing the semi-classical music since his piano teachers were leading names in the industry. At present he continues to study under Shantilal Silva. Not to be left out in his repertoire are the waltzes, standards, evergreens, golden oldies and quite naturally the hits of today. When he is not at the piano entertaining guests, Shane is involved in studies on 'the psychology and philosophy of Buddhism.' A student of the Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka, Shane also discourses in English at the University of Peradeniya and is into intensive study of Astronomy and Cosmology. But that's not all, this young man has another facet to his life, that of Business Management Administration and Marketing. No wonder then that he seeks relaxation in music! Weekend dance date Come Friday July 1 and it's all going to be a different scene at the California Grill. For those who enjoy strict tempo dance music and swing standards, Fridays and Saturdays are going to be dates for your diary.
Sam the Man, the popular veteran singer with his wide collection of golden oldies will be performing with the Ernest Francis Combo, a quartet that has been playing acoustic music for the past so many years at the California Grill. Sam the Man who returned from Germany recently, after successful performances of old time dance favourites, says he's happy to be singing with his former pianist Ernest Francis and is looking forward to meeting up with his fans. Ernest Francis Combo has Madanayake on tenor sax, Rex on acoustic bass and Nesan on drums. Sam who has completed thirty nine international assignments has performed in New York, Washington, Los Angeles, Melbourne and Sydney in Australia. His golden oldies sessions has taken him to London, Canada, New Zealand, Africa, Teneriffe, Japan and the Middle East countries. The California Grill Rooftop Restaurant with its new menus and dishes has the ideal elegant ambience for strict tempo dancing. The music will make your weekend evenings a memorable experience. MP Traffic updates from a helicopter The ABC Radio Network is soon to launch a new service for its listeners when they commence updating on the traffic situation in and around Colombo from a helicopter. This will be supported by an eye in the sky service where instantaneous updating on breaking news will also take place as part of this service. Also this is the first time in Sri Lanka that such a news service is being offered. Traffic updating from helicopters is common in the USA, Europe and United Kingdom, however this will be the first time that the local audiences are exposed to this unique service. The helicopter traffic updates will be done in collaboration with Deccan Aviation (Lanka) Private Limited, a specialist helicopter charter operator with expertise in fields such as helicopter news gathering, VIP transfers and airborne surveys. This service is due to commence on July 1 and will be aired over all five channels of the ABC Radio Network Sun FM, Gold FM, Hiru FM, Shaa FM and Sooriyan FM) in all three languages. The helicopter will fly over the main arteries into Colombo, from Monday to Friday between 7.00 am to 8.00 am, updating on the traffic situation. Information will also be provided on areas of unusual traffic congestion due to accidents or other factors. At the signing ceremony, Raynor Silva, Managing Director of ABC Radio Network stated that the network is known for its innovative entertainment to the listeners. And that this new service was the result of Sun FM's and its sister stations' continued efforts to improve the standards of broadcasting in Sri Lanka, by setting new trends and standards which would give value additions to its listeners. He went on to say that this is one of the key reasons why the ABC Radio Network is the No. 1 radio network in Sri Lanka. "As the largest network in the country we believe in giving the industry leadership and being in the forefront of providing the best in entertainment and information to its listeners". Win overseas honeymoons Couples who will tie the knot from now to December have the opportunity to win two romantic overseas honeymoons, by courtesy of the Dubai-based international airline Emirates. All this is possible through an exciting new on-air promotion with Sri Lanka's most popular radio stations. The packages, to the Maldives and Singapore, include air travel and four-star accommodation for three nights with breakfast, and can be won by participating in the competitions that are currently on, till the end of July on TNL 'Lite Cafe' on weekday mornings, and Classic Radio's 'Classic Drive' on weekday evenings. On TNL Lite, the competition 'Cloud Number Nine' revolves around a month-long survey based on questions seeking views on romance, love, fidelity and marriage. Selected participants from those who began registering in mid June will be called up on air and given an opportunity to explain their answers and win an attractive daily prize of a gift pack from Emirates. All participants will be entered into a grand draw which will be held in July for the prize of a honeymoon in the Maldives. On Classic Radio the competition 'On Wings of Love' will invite registered listeners to answer as many questions as they can on facts linked to exotic destinations associated with honeymooners and holiday makers to win the daily prizes. The competition will be conducted in two rounds commencing July 1 and the winners of the grand draw will receive a honeymoon in Singapore whose attractions such as Sentosa Island are popular among Sri Lankans. |
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