QUOTE OF THE MONTH
There is certainly good evidence that playing a musical instrument, however badly, can improve mental health.” – Dr. Michael Mosley, best -selling diet, fitness and mental health guru, and occasional ukulele player.
Spring has sprung at long last, and as much as we LOVE the idea of improving mental health by learning a musical instrument (and the study was in those over 60, learning drums for the first time) I have found personally, MY efforts at practising beat poet style bongos, while wonderful for MY mental health, have sent all those within hearing distance running for “them thar hills,” hands overt their ears and screaming. Well, perhaps that’s therapeutic in a way as well, but recent experience has taught me there is no greater antidepressant than hearing schoolchildren singing great pop songs in three-part harmonies, as evidenced by TWO great events here at Premises.
HALF-TERM VOICE JAM with CLIVE BROWN
Young people from Hackney secondary schools RULE! Within a couple of days of working with Jam master and choir director Clive Brown and his trusty keyboard player and arranger. Yomi, they had nailed all the vocal parts to Diana Ross’ Reach Out and Touch Someone and Sia’s Titanium. The singers worked hard at perfecting all the parts, lots of them taking solos with great confidence and brio, with some hilarious ad libs, not all of which made the final recording (‘Reach and and pay, your child support’). There is so much raw talent here on our doorstep, and Clive is brilliant at nurturing that, getting kids to sing outside their range and comfort zone. They worked very hard in studio A recording the songs, and were rewarded with two wonderful recordings followed by a pizza and freestyling party, with the young people going fairly hog wild on the mics in studio 1. Next one is in October. Will keep you posted.
HACKNEY MUSIC SERVICES GET YOUNG PEOPLE READY FOR THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME
Our partners at Hackney Music Services hosted a fantastic day long vocal workshop for Hackney schoolchildren, who are soon to embark on a musical and cultural exchange holiday in Northern Portugal. They are taking primary school year 5s and some secondary school students ( some who have attended Voice Jam!) We poked our heads in to watch choirmaster Ty Lowe put them through their paces, doing some pretty freaky and fun vocal warm ups, including Boom Chicka Boom, Maybe My Mummy Will Go To Miami and the entirely relatable: Today I feel older than I’ve ever felt. There was even an ad jingle in there for Bumblebee Tuna (ta for the earworm Ty!) There was Gospel, some call and response, and a bunch of joyful, uplifting tunes. Their voices were nothing short of magnificent, not a weak link in the whole group. Bravo and Bon Voyage, Hackney superstars!
LAST CALL FOR LIVE JAZZ PIANO WITH NIKKI YEOH
Just a couple of spaces left on our live Jazz piano course running 17-19 May with Nikki Yeoh, John Crawford and Tim Richards. This course is ideal for those who play some piano, jazz or otherwise, and want to explore jazz, blues, Latin jazz and modal forms. The three dayer culminates in a live performance with you on the keyboards, and a very slick band including Mark Mondesir, Dominic Howles and Denys Baptise. Friends and family are invited to the gig, and we provide soft drinks, wine and beer and a great atmosphere. All this for £275. To find out more or register for the course: michele@premiseseducation.org
NEW GOSPEL SHORT COURSE WITH LURINE CATO, 5 and 6th JULY
Gospel and soul singer Lurine Cato, who has run her popular Backing Vocals courses here, now brings a new class to Premises: Authentic Gospel Singing Course. Topics covered include: controlled breathing; volume techniques; vocal tone skills; traditional and contemporary Gospel singing; lead singing, ad-libbing and so much more. This is a good course for those who sing but would like to explore Gospel, or for those who already sing Gospel and want to improve in technique and range and repertoire. Learn from one of the greatest Gospel singers on the UK scene. Work friendly hours: 7-11 PM on the Friday and 11-3 on the Saturday. £149. For more information or to register: michele@premiseseducation.org
ACE NEW SHOW WITH SOWETO KINCH ON RADIO 3, WEEKDAYS
Premises regulars Folded Wing, who produce stellar radio programmes and podcasts, have scored a great gig with BBC Radio 3 with a new weeknight show ‘Round Midnight, presented by UK saxophonist and broadcaster Soweto Kinch. The show focuses on the best of British jazz music, with interviews and of course, great music. The show runs from 11:30PM-12:30 AM and we suggest you check it out if you want to keep up with the scene. Of course you can also catch Soweto Kinch, plus some of his playlist, such as Ezra Collective, Anoushka Shankar, Kokoroko, and Jazz Jamaica playing on PREMISES radio, admittedly, a rather smaller operation than Radio 3, but you never know…
WHO’S BEEN IN?
Amongst other luminaries, last month we welcomed: Blues Brothers, House Gospel Choir, The Staves, Omar Puente, Cymande, Riot Women, London Voice Academy, Harry Nye, Alternative Conservatoire, Triggerfish, CSX Pistols, Lust Ritual, Irene Taylor Trust, Asha Parkinson, Yellow Days, Michael Fitzgibbon, Esme, Folded Wing, The Funkhausers, The Unfunkables, Glory Choir, The Rumours, Asha, Octa Hawk, Kaizam Collective, Elephant Kind, Kokoroko, Vula, Barry O’Connor, Octahawk, Mae Muller, Wendy Bevan, Shiva Nova, Spearmint, Baby Johnsons, Tanita Tikaram, The Jam, Blue Lab Beats, Tomorrow’s Warriors, Gaby Martin, Cian Downing, Lazy Habits, Matilda Cole, Business as Usual, Poppy Ajudha, Blue Lab Beats, Dog Unit, Everyone You Know, Lone Remain, Bat for Lashes, Nieve Ella, Albion Band, Kindred Partners, Celeste, Love is Noise, Alfie Whitbread, Sunrise in Jupiter, Pulp, Rosey Carney, Johnny Hates Jazz, Bedlam, Perhaps Contraption, The Thin Men, Guildhall, Syrup, Mounte Kimbie,Vasili Karpiak, Saleem, Zofia, The Last Dinner Party and many more!
VIV UPDATE
Following on from his untimely stroke in early March (which begs the question, is there such a thing as a timely stroke…) our affable dynamo CEO is recovering well and popping into Premises on a fairly regular basis to tend to business, say hello and tickle his taste buds with Nural’s super soups and puddings. One thing we have been hearing loads is that the Premises is not really the Premises without Viv, and in kind, Viv is not really Viv without The Premises. If you are in, pop by the office to say hello, have a cuppa, and catch up. We are always interested in all news musical, what projects you are working on, and of course GOSSIP!
