Lou Beckerman reviews Heart of Oak by Terry Pack’s Trees. An ‘unfeasibly large ensemble ’ delivers a most feasibly fine album. Terry Pack’s Trees Heart of Oak (Symbol Records) I can recall Trees as a freshly-planted seedling concept. It swiftly found fertile ground for robust growth in the musicianship, dedication, diversity and […]
Lou Beckerman in conversation with Simon Wallace and Sarah Moule, prior to their gig at The Verdict, Brighton on 4th November, 2017. Simon Wallace is a seasoned composer, pianist, arranger and producer. He has performed all over the world and it’s been said that ‘when he plays the piano it’s as if there’s a […]
Court and Spark: Reinterpreting Joni Mitchell 29th October 2016 The Verdict, Brighton The title of Brighton musician Lucy Pickering’s project: Court and Spark is from the 1974 album of the same name by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell. As a long-standing Joni admirer (one is supposed to refer to artists by their surname […]
Lou Beckerman discusses with the highly respected British vocalist and lyricist, Norma Winstone MBE, a flourishing life in jazz spanning over five decades. Most of us can't remember a time when Norma Winstone wasn't a prominent figure on the British jazz scene. I first met her three years ago when I was […]
Jazz vocalist Tina May talks to Lou Beckerman about her life in jazz… Tina May is a highly versatile jazz vocalist and recording artist with a phenomenally busy international career. I first met her about six years ago. Since then I’ve encountered only a huge sincerity, generosity of spirit, sharing and fun in […]
Lou Beckerman reviews Tina May’s vocal workshop hosted by Brighton Jazz School Tina May is an obvious enthusiast when it comes to sharing her knowledge. The workshop was well-attended with twenty-three vocalists of varying levels of experience attracted by an advertised afternoon programme covering: Scat syllables Interpretation and phrasing Importance of knowing the form […]
Claire Martin Vocal Workshop South Coast Jazz Festival Friday 23rd January 2015 Lou Beckerman sat in as an observer at Claire Martin’s South Coast Jazz Festival Vocal Workshop and here gives a review: Claire Martin doesn’t do a great deal of teaching so this SCJF Vocal Workshop was a brilliant opportunity for twelve singer […]
Lou Beckerman The Brunswick, Hove Sunday 16th November 2014 Walking on stage performing the catchy bass riff that begins Lou Beckerman’s album Into the Blue, there was a palpable sense of intrigue and anticipation of what the audience were about to experience. Highlights of the first set were a dreamy version of […]
LAUNCHING ‘INTO the BLUE’ Part 3: With two-thirds of the album launch mini-tour fulfilled, vocalist Lou Beckerman gives an update on progress thus far, with an overview of lessons learned and experience gained… Part 1 of ‘Launching Into the Blue’ reflected on what has been involved in the wearing of an independent […]
Part 2: In the run-up to three album launch events Lou Beckerman and some of the instrumentalists reflect on their experience of participating in this project. I’m writing this two days before the first launch (the stately one!) at gracious Danny House in Hurstpierpoint. It looks as though time spent publicising has been worthwhile […]