QUOTE OF THE MONTH
“When you lose yourself in activity such as practice, the side effect is joy and when you become joyful in what you are absorbed in, all other agendas dissolve.”Jason Rebello, on the joy of practising your instrument.
We were delighted to have Jason Rebello teaching a module as part of Nikki Yeoh’s sold out piano refresher course, along with Dian Gasper and Byron Wallen. Practicing is often approached with reluctance, but Jason says it’s all about mindset and intention. If you approach practice with purpose and joy, and see the slow build to progress, it’s just total win-win. You get better at your instrument, and your audience (and yourself) can hear that improvement. We see and hear this daily at The Premises, one of the perks of being on your tea break and sticking your head outside the studio door. Rebello, a man who emanates the quiet joy of someone who has undergone some process of enlightenment, says without a doubt the joy of the performer is absorbed by the audience. He says, “The heaven of appreciating the joy of others is better than being the creator of that joy.” We won’t bang on about the joy of the course participants, but let’s just say that those who were nervous at the start were floating on air by the end, and those who were confident players pushed themselves to limits unknown.
AND watch this space for dates of Nikki’s Piano Performance Course and Piano Recording Course, both later this year. Also, DO check out her weekly show on Jazz FM, a great, smooth mix of jazz old and new. Her radio voice is a winning combination of dulcet jazz tones and proper Cockney. Nikki! Jazz! Noiice!
GET IN... WE’RE NEARLY THERE!!
Clive Brown once more returns with his popular Voice Jam project, a free, four-day urban choir primarily for Hackney and Tower Hamlets Secondary school students who love singing, but we DO take students from other boroughs if space allows. It’s a fun, educational choral singing jam, with the young people putting their own spin on modern rock, pop or soul classics, though we took a popular sojourn into gospel in October. No previous experience required, but a love of singing and a desire to record in our studio and get a taste of a professional recording atmosphere would help. We choose one song and the choir chooses the other. Clive’s unique approach means that each singer sings all parts, blended together in a mix that sounds big and majestic. The days start at a teen friendly 2:30 and runs til 6:30, from the 17th-19th of February, and from 11-4:30 on the recording day (20th) which includes a party with free food and drink and an opportunity for all singers to freestyle on the mic. You can email me for more information: michele@premiseseducation.org or sign up here.
TWO WORKSHOPS WITH YOLANDA CHARLES
Premises Music Education Programme are delighted to welcome back Yolanda Charles MBE, internationally renowned bassist and songwriter, to run workshops over two days on the 20th and 21st of March. Her insights into all aspects of playing bass, as well as insider industry tips, have been invaluable in previous courses here, not only to bass players but drummers as well. Day one is a session for electric bass players, which will offer a diagnostic approach to posture and finger positioning; exercises to improve fingerboard and plucking technique; riffing and phrasing; harmony basics; harmonic choices; rhythms and timing, and bassline construction via melodic structures. The day runs from 10-4 with an hour’s lunch break, and there will be plenty of opportunity to practice. All this for £95!
Now you can stop there, or join Yolanda again the next day with her Instra-mentals Rhythm Section Clinic. This will be a shorter, intensive afternoon session: 2:30-5:30, and she will be joined by Nick Linnik, guitarist and producer for Project PH and Jay Kalo on percussion. This masterclass will offer insight on how to develop ideas for arrangements to form a cohesive rhythm section and to improve musical communication between band members. Yolanda will share her experiences as a session musician, band leader, bassist, record label MD and producer. The trio will perform a series of compositions which will be broken down into the parts played on each instrument. You will also have the opportunity to join the group for some of the exercises. This session is suitable for bass players, drummers, and guitarists who want to learn more about locking in with the rhythm section. The clinic costs £50. The course is filling up and numbers are limited so if you are interested, sign up now! michele@premiseseducation.org
HACKNEY GALA
A small and tidy cohort from Premises went to The Hackney Music Service Gala at the Hackney Empire. HMS are our long-term partners and the number one music provider to Hackney schools. The level of talent was off the scale, the opening number including Premises regular Omar Puente. We had steel pans, and a raucous version of Sweet Child of Mine, and a gorgeous big sounding ‘I’m in the Mood for Love.’ Lyan Gama, who helps out with our Voice Jam programme, did a cracking number which he wrote, arranged and performed with the Hackney Youth Orchestra. This young man is going places, as are SO MANY OTHERS who participated in the Gala. If you are a young musician in Hackney and want to play in some stellar bands and venues, contact: musicservice@hackney.gov.uk
MISSISSIPPI GODDAM
On 31st Jan there was a spectacular tribute at the Festival Hall to the legendary Nina Simone (who used to rehearse here back in the late 90’s). Bringing some of her most powerful songs back to life were the mighty Nu Civilisation Orchestra with other Premises regulars Laura Mvula, Corinne Bailey Rae and China Moses. The Nu Civilisation Orchestra directed by Peter Edwards was the brainchild of Gary Crosby OBE, who recently celebrated his star-studded 70th birthday at The Jazz Café!
BLACK COUNTRY NEW ROAD NEW LP
Our good pals Black Country New Road have a new record Forever Howlong, out on 4 April. They gave us a shout out on Six Music, telling listeners how they wrote most of it here! Produced by another Premises long term friend James Ford. Tour dates here: https://blackcountrynewroad.com/live
EZRA COLLECTIVE
Premises regulars Ezra Collective are up for FOUR Brits! This after winning the Mercury Prize in 2023. The nominations are for Album of The Year, Group of The Year, Best New Artist, and Alternative Rock Act. Hurrah, we say, but double hurrah if they tearfully thank the Premises for each win. Like, after their mothers but before their hairdressers.
AFTER 5 YEARS, A SMALL PRICE RISE
Well we held off for as long as humanly possible but we've finally had to increase the room hire rates slightly. eg. 4hrs in a medium studio will go from £65.28 to £75 (inc VAT)
Gear hire rates remain unchanged. For full details please see the prices page here.
MARIANNE FAITHFULL RIP
We were saddened by the death of Marianne Faithfull, who rehearsed here for a week many years ago with the great Hal Willner and his band. We have some stories about her, but can’t tell ‘em. Let’s just say…we do cater to unusual requests, as long as they’re legal.
CLIVE LANGER IN THE PRESS
Great read and anecdotes aplenty from production legend Clive Langer, who’s been at the Premises more times than you’ve had hot dinners. Here ya go.
WHO’S BEEN IN?
Those embracing the joy of music-making here last month included: Jocelyn Brown, Roella Oloro, Danny Silverstone, Void, Shalom, Zoifia, Business as Usual, Jessica Richardson, Last Dinner Party, Saleem, Blanco White, Singing Bowie, Broxton Hundreds, Kawala, Roameo, Level Neville, Triggerfish, Tom Platts, Big Fear, Camilla George, Alfie Whitbread, The Live 45s, Sunrise and Jupiter, Folded Wing, Moonshine Heavies, Luna, Tunng, Tom Collins, Olivia Morgan, Asian Dub Foundation, Kneeslide, Ade, Kayode, Hot Stamp, Nadia Ahmed, Eliana Correa, Flip Beckmann, London Voice Academy, The Swingles, Lee Eric, Dissolved Girl, Vasily, Trinity Laban, Guildhall School, Rich Cooper, Human Pyramids, Lust Ritual, Barry Can’t Swim, Iona Layland, Stereophonic, Octahawk, Nippa, Blue Violet, James Sindle, Springfield Quartet, Olly Alexander, Michelle Stoddart, Candi Staton, Sombroso, Angus Newman, Everyone Says Hi, Yolanda Brown, The Glentones, The Jam, Fiona Ross, Tim & Nick, Scout, Clive Langer, Cymande, Mishaal Tamer, Albion, Rizzle Kicks, Bedhead, Jamie Glass, Lurine Cato and Fossils, amongst many other luminaries.
AND FINALLY...
