PART ONE:

We spoke to singer/composer Fini Bearman about:

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– Learning from the inspirational educator composer Martin Read in her home-town of Alton, Hampshire.

– Studies at Guildhall and Jazzinstitut Berlin, where Kurt Rosenwinkel reinforced her direction as a composer

– Reconnecting with the London scene and the astonishing qquantity of fine pianists:  Rick Simpson, Tom Hewson, and Liam Noble –  players who can “play anything”.

Musical Excerpts:

Kurt Rosenwinkel – Zhivago from Next Step (Verve, 2001) at 02:39

Wayne Shorter – Angola from Alegria (Verve, 2003) at 05:27

Fini Bearman – Fumei a Vida from Step Up (2012) at 09:12

Interview with Fini Bearman Part 2 by LondonJazz

PART TWO:

– The influence of Becca Stevens, with I’ll Notice from the album Weightless.

-A sneak preview of a forthcoming album, a collaboration between Bearman and Matt Calvert and John Blease  reworking Porgy and Bess.

There is an album preview at Pizza Express Dean Street on 16th September featuring Calvert, Ross Stanley on keyboards, John Cox on bass, and John Scott or percussion. Bearman will be at the Forge on the 17th with Tom Hewson as part of Moss Freed’s Collision project.

Musical Excerpts:

I’ll Notice at 1:43

I Loves You Porgy at 5:16