Biography

Jean has been playing professionally for over 20 years, having commenced on the family piano at the tender age of three - playing the tunes of nursery rhymes.

It comes as no surprise to learn that Jean comes from a musical family, with her mother and both grandparents themselves having been musical.

Her natural musical ability began to show through when she was only five years old, so her parents saw fit to send her to a music teacher who, in turn, saw her through her grades on piano, and on through Trinity College of Music in London - from which Jean emerged as an Associate of that college.

Like so many of our finest organists over the years, Jean was appointed organist of her local church and - even nowadays - when time permits, she willingly slides onto the organ bench, to give the regular organist a little time off.

Moving effortlessly between grand piano, custom-built electronic organs or keyboards, and mighty Wurlitzer theatre organs, Jean will occasionally surprise - and delight - audiences by performing on more than one instrument during a concert. If anyone in the audience is expecting the same old routine, then they will be disappointed every time.

More often than not, Jean arrives at a venue armed with her music (and a vast amount stored in her head), and the programme that follows is very much dictated by her mood, the surroundings, the instruments available to her, and feminine intuition.

So, if you like the "William Tell" overture at a cracking gallop, the spirit-raising "Dam Busters' March", a ride on the "Orient Express", a hip-swivelling selection of Latin American dances, a toe-tapping swing session from the big band era, a smoochy love song from the latest West End hit . . . you can have it!

Having said that, there is nothing Jean herself likes more than playing her own special arrangements of music from the 1940s.

With such a dexterity, and understanding of the complexities of her chosen range of instruments, it is not easy to pigeon-hole Jean's specific style. There are some who say that her technique and artistry remind them of the great Errol Garner (albeit with extra fingers), while others say that her romantic interpretations are reminiscent of Richard Clayderman, but with a little of Russ Conway - and even Fats Waller - in there, determined to get out.

Flexibility, fun, frolics and effervescence are the hallmarks of Jean's inimitable performances, while drawing on her extensive classical training, and wide range of repertoire.

She is equally at home with jazz, swing, big band, and concert orchestral music - when you are in one of her audiences, you might well be at a James Last concert, or in Ronnie Scott's club. It is hardly surprising that Jean is regularly sought after as a session player for the BBC, whether for recordings or live broadcasts.

She is also a bit of a globe-trotter, entertaining beyond our shores - frequently on the same bill as famous personalities such as the irrepressible Ken Dodd, singer Vince Hill and Chris Tarrant.

There are a great number of organ societies around the UK, many with preserved theatre organs, others with electronic instruments (and occasionally with a piano standing by), and Jean is a regular fixture on most circuits - being asked back again and again.

Her popularity has spread worldwide, and she is constantly being asked to play across America, and throughout Europe - regular dates being in Germany, Holland, Italy and Switzerland. She is not backward when it comes to supporting deserving charities, and has personally raised large sums of money to assist cancer charities, and to help the blind.

As to posterity, Jean has made numerous recordings on CD, on which she has ably demonstrated her talents and ability on piano, electronic organ, and - her real love - the theatre organ. One of her all-time favourite recordings was made on the famous Wurlitzer organ in the Tower Ballroom, Blackpool.

It is no accident that Jean is the only female organist to have recorded on the Tower Ballroom Wurlitzer in the last 50 years!