Cornwall and district music lovers were treated to a kaleidoscope of sounds, musical styles, and original works, on Saturday evening at Aultsville Theatre.

Two fine and talented artists, Andrew Gilpin and Fred Jacobowitz performed an eclectic program, borrowed from the classics, folk, ragtime, jazz, pops, on a variety of instruments which included the piano, two keyboards, clarinets, and saxophone. They are known as Ebony and Ivory, ebony representing the clarinet family of instruments and ivory, as the white keys of the piano. They transported us from the concert hall, to the cabarets and nightclubs of New York and other large cities.

Concert Series organizer, Sylvia Whitaker brought in her usual bit of humour and colour, "burgundy" as she welcomed the packed audience. Her greetings set the tone for an evening of fun and fine entertainment.

The program opened with Feast by Bill Douglas, a light and somewhat whimsical piece with syncopated rhythms, played on clarinet and keyboard.

It was followed by the three movements of an original work by Andrew Gilpin, the Sonata for Clarinet and Piano. This is a beautiful composition, with varying rhythms and styles, and a Spanish flavour. The dialogue between the piano and clarinet was interesting and effective.

Jacobowitz introduced The Chassidic Dance of Abraham Ellstein, a composition of Jewish inspiration, with typical folk and Klezmer dance style, alternating with a magical lyrical section. Jacobowitz explained that much great music of the Eastern European Jews was destroyed during the Third Reich. Fortunately, this piece was preserved, and the audience was treated to a masterful and inspirational interpretation of the work.

From Jewish inspiration, the two artists brought us to the French modern and slightly dissonant idiom of Francis Poulenc. The three movement Sonata for Clarinet and Piano, written in 1962, was at times lyrical and at other moments quite fast-paced, bringing out the "Allegro tristamente" of the work. The sensitive phrasing and interesting dynamics made for great listening.

Then came the cabaret portion of the evening with works from Henry Mancini, George Gershwin, Hoagy Carmichael, performed solo by pianist Andrew Gilpin. The tricky and innovative arrangements by Cy Walter featured Moon River, Clap Yo' Hands and Heart and Soul. Gilpin is obviously quite at home with this informal music.

A change of instruments brought variety to the program. Dreams of You by Dave McGarry was performed on keyboard and saxophone, and Rag (from Four Dances) by William Bolcom featuring the Eb baby clarinet, made for great entertainment. A highlight was Leonard Bernstein's America from West Side Story. The intricacy of the music was made even more fascinating by the constant change of instruments - two clarinets and a saxophone. It certainly displayed Jacobowitz's versatility.

Minority, a very rhythmic composition of Andrew Gilpin featured a portable keyboard.

The second and third movements from a Sonatina by Joseph Horowitz were absolutely mesmerizing. The beautiful phrasing, the sensitive and warm playing on the clarinet in the second movement was followed by a captivating jazz style, all ending with an effective crescendo. Horovitz was born in Vienna in 1926, but emigrated to England during early adolescence.

Then a return to ragtime and jazz. Ragtime brings forth the name of Scott Joplin, whose father was a former slave and plantation fiddler, and his mother a singer. Joplin dedicated his life to preserving and promoting an understanding of ragtime music. Gilpin certainly gave a befitting tribute to Joplin in his solo performances of Maple Leaf Rag, Solace and Magnetic Rag.

The clarinet is naturally associated with the name of Benny Goodman. Imaginations were carried away to sophisticated nightclubs, through the delightful performances of Clarinet a la King, A Smooth One and Benjie's Bubble.

Andrew Gilpin's talents as a composer shone through his Aes Sedai, a beautiful composition inspired by Robert Jordan's The Wheel of Time. With such unusual abilities as a pianist, composer and arranger, this young musician is sure to go places.

The favourite, technically demanding Tico Tico of Don Marcotte & Zequinha Abreu, creatively arranged by Gilpin, brought the program to a close. The standing ovation of the audience brought a heart-warming rendition of Summertime by Gershwin.