Chris Collis Interview

Attendees of HarmonicaUK events will recognise the piano player who works tirelessly along in the background, accompanying many of the harmonica performers on the stage. That piano player is Chris Collis, and we’ve been talking so I can find out more about him.

Neil: How long have you been performing with HarmonicaUK (previously National Harmonica League)?

Chris: Twenty years, since 2002.

How did it first come about?

Jim Hughes telephoned me. I didn’t know who Jim Hughes was back then, or what an important part of my career he CHRIS COLLIS would become. Jim was looking for an accompanist for an up-and-coming harmonica player, Phillip Achille. I first INTERVIEW met Jim and Phillip at Solihull School chapel where we rehearsed up to three times a week.

By Neil Warren So, you worked closely with Phillip in his rise to stardom?

I did, yes, and I like to think I played a part in it. We worked closely together since Phillip was just a young boy, playing a lot of classical arrangements, including some pieces composed specifically for the chromatic harmonica. I take great pride that I went on to accompany Phillip at his first World Championships in Trossingen in 2013, where he won the Classical session. Subsequently Phillip and I were invited to play in the gala concert at Trossingen, which was a big honour. Were you involved with Phillip’s entry in the BBC Young Musician of the Year in 2007? Yes, I also accompanied Phillip in that competition, where he did fantastically well to make it to the quarterfinals against a very talented line-up. We performed together on BBC4 TV in Gateshead. The BBC selected Phillip for a fly-on-the-wall documentary, with the film crew following us around.

What was the first HUK event you took part in?

It was a one-day festival held in Birmingham, where I accompanied a young Phillip in what was probably his first performance in front of a HUK audience.

You’ve been the piano accompanist at the main HUK festival

for many years now - how did that start? Other people heard me playing with Phillip and started asking me to accompany them, and it developed from there. Jim Hughes also supported this. I had started playing with Jim around schools in Birmingham.

Do you play any harmonica yourself?

I don’t, although Jim Hughes showed me a few basics to help my understanding of the instrument. I did have a connection to the harmonica before I got involved with HUK though, as my

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grandfather played. I’ve always been impressed by the quality of sound from the instrument. And I’ve listened to many albums by players such as Tommy Reilly and Larry Adler to develop my appreciation of playing with the instrument.

How do you approach accompanying the harmonica?

If the harmonica player is not using an amplifier, I’m careful not to play too loud. Another thing is to not play in the middle of the keyboard too much, as that is the same range of the harmonica. So, I play bass in left hand, and chords in right hand.

Do you recall any memorable performances with other harmonica players (besides Phillip)?

Playing with Jim Hughes for sure. Jim is world class and a delight to work with. I owe a lot of the success of my musical career to Jim. As to other players, to name a few: I’ve played with Douglas Tate, Frank Semus and Harry Pitch, Adam Glasser and Phil Hopkins. International players include Will Galison from the US, and Antonio Serrano from Spain, who are both tremendous players. I played with Jens Bunge from Germany on some of his own compositions (Jens is appearing at the Chromatic Weekend this year, where Chris will be on piano duty once again). And folk musicians Ernie Gordon and Tom Byrne. Note: there are YouTube clips of many of these performances, recorded by Roger Trobridge (search for “rtrob”).

You also recorded some albums with Gerry Ezard?

I did - three albums, the first called “My Stuff”.

What do you do when not working with harmonica players?

I’ve done a lot of work with singers, including the opera star Margaret Preece. I’ve done a lot of work with community choirs. In Birmingham I’m part of ‘Community Spirit’, where a lot of choirs come together and perform in the amazing venue of the Symphony Hall. There is a big event there on July 10th. I’ve also worked as an accompanist for music exams for lots of different instruments. And with violinist Ralph Allin, and Jadie Carey, the bassist and cello player. Both very versatile players. My day job is with Solihull Music as a teacher and musician. Outside that I’m a freelance pianist, composer, and arranger. In 2021 two of my songs made it to the semi-finals of the UK songwriting competition, with entries coming from 80 countries.

Any words of advice to harmonica players, from a pianist:

Be wary that you’re sometimes a soloist and sometimes an accompanist, and the interchange between the two instruments.

Any finishing comments:

I believe it’s vital that we inspire the next generations of musicians, not just for harmonica, but all types of instruments. I am hopeful that creating music exams for the harmonica will help with this. And with the rebranding of HarmonicaUK, I think the future is in good hands for the harmonica.

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