ARTISTS
Saturday 26th Nov.
2:00 - 3:30pm
This event will comprise of a series of compositions/collaborations by Kevin Flanagan and his group Riprap based on selections read by Beat-style bebop jazzpoet, Jazzman John Clarke from his book Ghost on the Road, his collection of work based on his love of jazz and the Beats. This will be joined by the contemporary dancer Laura Brera, who will create a series of accompanying dances.
Riprap formed as a group of like-minded musicians who wanted to explore some less common modes of composing and open-ended improvisation, sometimes working with spoken word in the form of readings with contemporary poets, encompassing the freedom that typified the early period of the original Beats.
They take their inspiration from the Beat Poets, with their freewheeling lateral association, Miles Davis and his open-ended forms (which always had a solid street-informed rhythmic drive), and Kerouac’s idea of a ‘Holy Goof’ (spiritual trickster). This has now coalesced into a core quartet: Kevin Flanagan (saxophones), Dave Gordon (piano), Joel Humann (bass) and Tom Hooper (drums/percussion).
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"Haunting and atmospheric settings of Gary Snyder's evocative poetry from sax player/composer Kevin Flanagan's new band. Acoustic jazz of the highest order where the musicians solo beautifully and sit in grooves like they've found a new place to live." Sue Edwards, Bookings manager, Royal Festival Hall.
Jazzman John Clarke is a beat-style bebop jazz poet, author, performer and recording artist. He is also a published poet with tall-lighthouse in the shape of his debut full collection Ghost on the Road. John collaborates with a variety of musicians & has performed throughout London, Oxford, Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2009), Amsterdam, South of France and in Italy with experimental & improvising musicians.
Known for his dynamic and declamatory style John is a popular & sought-after performer on the London scene and has also run a series of alternative events in various parts of London, including Deptford, Greenwich, Lewisham, Camberwell & Shoreditch. His CDs include: Jazz Circus – What Jazz Can Do (For Your Life) and John Clarke – The Way I Like My Jazz.
Laura Brera is an artist-researcher and choreographer interested in the perception of what is “invisible” to the eyes, but relevant to our life especially in an extra-ordinary setting as in performance arts. She holds an MA (hons) in Philosophy and a Postgraduate in Performance Innovations that led her to direct a pan-European dance company through which she intertwines creative research with technology and cognitive science, and is currently studying for a PhD in Dance at University of Surrey.
Apart from her own projects, She has also been working and touring with Jane Turner's ensemble in their collaborations with Richard Hoadley. Her artistic training started with the rigour of Ballet guided by teachers from the Vaganova Academy of St. Petersburg and continued with the exploration of different approaches to performing art as well as the training in the Japanese martial arts. She has worked extensively as artist and choreographer in theatres in Europe and the UK. Alongside it, whilst working as massage therapist, became Master in the Reiki system of Natural Healing.
