Loft Events History

Sunday May 11 @ the Loft

Fred Thomas Trio
with support sets from
Kadialy Kouyate's Sound Archive and
Jenni Roditi Trio

7pm for 7.30pm
£6/£5 conc.
Bring a bottle - soft or strong.
Please RSVP - to reserve your place.

Fred Thomas Trio

Fred Thomas: Piano
Robin Fincker: Clarinet & Tenor Saxophone
Ben Bryant: Drums and Percussion

Formed in 2006, this ensemble's evolution over the past few years has lead to a creative combination of original compositions and free improvisation, drawing on a wealth of influences in contemporary classical music - Ligeti and Reich in particular - as well as African and other folkloric music. The trio explores the sonic environment generated by unconventional and often textural approaches to instrumental technique and composition.
See Fred Thomas Trio on Myspace.

Fred's music carries a quality of intention and deep listening that draws you instinctively towards his playing.

Kadialy Kouyate's Sound Archive

Kadialy Kouyate: vocals and kora
Lucy Railton: cello
Ben Bryant: percussion
Fred Thomas: double-bass
Kadialy Kouyate was born in Kolda in Casamance, in the south of Senegal . He comes from a very large West African musical family of dialis, which means 'griot', who are well known in Mandinka history. A griot is a storyteller in Western Africa who perpetuates the oral tradition and history of a village or family. Kadialy belongs to the great line of Kouyate griots, descendants of Balla Fasseke Kouyate, the first Mandinka diali, who became the official griot in the service of the emperor Sundiata Keita. Being brought up in such a family of griots, he played the kora instinctively from an early age. Raised by his grandmother, from whom he acquired a great knowledge of songs based on traditional stories which form the bedrock of his repertoire, Kadialy has discarded these established forms and developed his own.

Jenni Roditi Trio

Jenni Roditi : Voice and Piano
Bernard Greenwood : Amplified Violin
Richard Kilgour: Bass Guitar
Recently formed from connections made at the Loft and currently with 2 pieces in their repertoire (and a third on the way) tonight's 13 minute composition, Trust the Moment written by Jenni, with original contributions from Bernard and Richard, crystalizes a number of influences and musical styles. High energy, quirky hypnotic rhythms, Indian inspired vocals and juicy harmonies.

Saturday March 8th @ the Loft

Pipawoman and Pianoman

An East-Meets-West evening of adventure involving two musicians. The evening will consist of a variety of solos reflecting each artist's musical interests both ancient and modern as well as the premiere duo collaboration of these two unique artists meeting for the first time in London at the Loft.

Doors open at 7pm. Concert starts at 7.30

£:6 (on door) £5 concs

(Bring a bottle - soft OR something stronger if you want to drink)

RSVP The Loft

Ask Jenni for reservation and venue address/access etc.

The Pipa

Sometimes called the Chinese lute, it has been played for nearly two thousand years in China. The two most common ways of playing this instrument is 'Pí' is to push the fingers of the right hand from right to left, thus more than one finger can be used at a time striking multiple notes, and 'pá' is to pull the thumb in the opposite direction. The strings were played using a large plectrum in the Tang Dynasty, then later replaced by the fingernails of the right hand.

The repertoire consists of traditional melodies, but new pieces are constantly being composed, many of which follow a more Western structure.

Pipawoman

Her performances have been acclaimed by both Chinese and international critics. Pipawoman (Luo Chao-yun), is indebted to many people around the world for their instruction, encouragement, and compliments and she is determined to continue presenting her musical talents at the highest level possible, always seeking the true, the good, and the beautiful.

'Her pipa music is simply out of this world !' (Prof. Herr, College of the Liberal Arts in Lisbon University)
'It's unbelievable! Pipawoman can produce many complicated skills and different sounds like a big orchestra!' (Govinda Nepal)

Pianoman

Veryan Weston – piano, spent 1970's working as artist in residence at Digswell House. Co-founded/formed group "Stinky Winkles" – won four 1st prizes in Europe. He has longstanding musical partnerships with Lol Coxhill, Trevor Watts and Eddie Prévost. Since 1980, he has collaborated with Phil Minton and have given song recitals from a large and broad repertoire; they have composed for variously sized ensemble projects e.g. from the prize-winning "Songs from a Prison Diary" for 25 singers, to the current group "4Walls". Included in over thirty CD releases are three solo recordings, the latest being "Tessellations" which uses in CD ROM format recently published material of his work on pentatonic scales.

PLUS.....don't forget!

WILD VOICES

This Sunday!
6.30 for 7pm.

Curious Voice Duo - a brilliant collaboration between a capella voices in uniquely creative act.

Jenni Roditi - singing with piano, guitar and a capella a mixture of contemporary/popluar and world music influenced songs in a world of their own!

Do come ... we are low on numbers right now because of short notice for this event.
My fault entirely.
I forget my own gigs for some reason!
(and Curious Voice Duo are really a treat... !)

Sunday March 2nd 2008. @ 7pm. Doors 6.30.

WILD VOICES

composing and performing voice musicians

Curious Voice Duo

Curious Voice Duo

and

Jenni Roditi

Maria Jardardottir and Elisabeth Nygaard - two voices in childlike and unified exploration present innovative acoustic vocal music and bring their audience captivating and intimate concert expression.
Vivid, raw and enchanting singing from two original vocal creatives.

See: -

Maria-Jardardottir
for mp3 examples

Jenni Roditi

Jenni's composing is unbound by stylistic convention and her singing draws on indigenous vocal embellishments, contemporary and popular music. She sings unaccompanied, at the piano and with guitar. There is a sample at the top of the page: hit the play button.

This evening's programme will combine vocal dexterity, playful invention and a surrendering to the sheer energy of human voice through original songs and improvisations.

Not to be missed!

£7 on the door. Bring a bottle if you want to (soft or strong). Snacks provided.

Doors open 6.30pm. Start 7pm.

RSVP to The Loft if you intend to come.

(Sorry it's shortish notice.)

February 9th 2008

Tandj

SONGS OF LOVE,DEVOTION AND SURRENDER
an evening of musical rasalila ,'the play of colour and feeling'

Tim Jones, voice and guitar
'a unique blend of virtuosity and human approachability.' - Judith Weir, composer.

with special guest Adrian Lee, guitars, Dhevdhas Nair, piano, plus percussionist t.b.a. .

Tim sings with unique authenticity based on his study of South Indian singing, as well as his study of subtle cranial body work, deep listening and many years of teaching sound and voice.
This is a rare appearance by Tim and not to be missed!
Tim Jones is a singer and teacher who has pioneered a method of voice teaching -The Nature of Sound - that draws on his long study of South Indian music and bhakti (devotion) spiritual traditions, with K.R. Sivasankara Pannikar.

Adrian Lee is a composer and multi-instumentalist. He has been MD and composer for many productions with the RSC, Stratford upon Avon, and is currently composing music for The Globe's production of 'The Merchant of Venice.'

Dhevdas Nair is a pianist and dulcimer player. He has toured with jazz, African and Indian group throughout Europe, Africa and India and has worked with theatre and dance companies including London Bubble Theatre and the Daksha Sheth Dance Company in South India. He is currently writing and recording with his own group Myriad and plays dulcimer with medieval group Daughters of Elvin

Doors open 7. Start 7.30
£6 - plus bring something to drink and snack for the interval.
Please RSVP if you wish to come by contacting Jenni at the Loft to reserve your place.

February 3rd 2008

(start 6.30pm).

Improvising Trio

Three highly accomplished musicians - Nancy Ruffer, John Butcher and Max Eastley.

Nancy Ruffer

Nancy Ruffer was born in Detroit, Michigan. Upon graduating from The University of Michigan in 1976, she was awarded a Fulbright-Hays Scholarship to study at The Royal Academy of Music in London, and she has remained in London working as a free-lance flautist specialising in contemporary music and performing with various ensembles including Music Projects/London, Matrix, Topologies and The Almeida Ensemble, and ensembles at The Royal National Theatre. In addition, she has performed both as soloist and chamber player for the BBC as well as playing in festivals and concert halls throughout Britain, Europe, the U.S.A., Canada and the Caribbean.

John Butcher was born in Brighton, England and has lived in London since the late 1970s. His music ranges through free improvisation, various structurings, his own compositions, multitracked saxophone pieces and work with live electronics, amplification and feedback.He has toured and broadcast in Europe, Japan, Australia and North America, and was featured, playing solo, in the BBC TV programme Date with an Artist. Compositions include pieces for Chris Burn’s Ensemble , the Austrian group Polwechsel and the American Rova Saxophone Quartet.

Max Eastley is an artist whose work combines kinetic sound sculpture and music to produce a unique art form. Since the late 1960s, Eastley has been fascinated by the relationship of chance to music and art, and in environmental forces such as wind and water. He began to investigate this relationship in his work, using kinetic sound machines and the natural forces of the wind, streams and the sea. As a consequence, his career opened out into new areas of creative and philosophical exploration.

CLOSED CIRCUIT
John Butcher - Saxophone
Nancy Ruffer - Flute
Max Eastley - Sound Machines

Nancy and John first worked together in 1996 when they presented the series 'Sound Art' at the Conway Hall. The series brought together mainstream Western contemporary music specialists and established improvisors. Due to the success of the series they repeated it in 1998. They subsequently recorded as a duo for the BBC. In this special Loft concert, they team up with Max Eastley to create a trio which will explore sound, space, textures and possibilities.

Definition:
Closed Circuit - an unbroken path of conductors through which electric current flows.

Father's Footsteps

'A Musical Sketchbook'

Venue:    Jenni’s Loft: Flat 55, Exchange House,          71 Crouch End Hill, London, N8

Date:             Sunday January 6th 2008

Time:             6pm

Price:             £6 (plus bring eats and drinks to share)

The Musicians

Catherine Shrubshall: soprano, alto, tenor & baritone saxophones/clarinet & bass clarinet

Francesca Hanley: flute, alto flute & bass flute/whistles/piano

Simon Allen: percussion/saw/concertina/hammer dulcimer

reserve your place by: emailing Project Surprise

or by ringing the box office: 07930 112245

'A Musical Sketchbook'

At the turn of the millennium, on a dusty shelf, a musician discovered a diary her late father had written in 1956. The young sailor detailed his extraordinary post war hitch-hike from HMS Surprise in Malta, through Europe, and back to England where he was demobbed. The musician, inspired by the sailor’s words, followed in his footsteps 50 years later, with her saxophone and a group of artists. On their return they conceived a new artists' collective, a concert, an exhibition and a soundtrack…

The exhibition soundtrack has been developed in to a live improvised journey, which will be premiered at Jenni’s Loft on Sunday January 6th 2008. It is a collaborative composition by multi instrumentalists Catherine Shrubshall, Francesca Hanley and Simon Allen, recalling Catherine's sensations and feelings as she retraced her Father’s Footsteps. A series of musical sketches build around a haunting melody written in Malta at the start of the journey. The theme is explored through many instrumental permutations and styles (including folk and ambient jazz) while each sketch evokes the sounds, emotions, textures and memories that Catherine experienced as she travelled.

The music is a blend of composition and improvisation. Like the journey itself, the music is structured yet spontaneous, creating a compelling sketchbook of sound that captures Catherine's experiences on her journey. Layers of music collide and coalesce in extravagant colour and harmony, creating a dialogue between past and present for the listener.

December 8th 2007

Merit and Abdul-Salam

In this programme, Merit and Abdul-Salam will explore the rich vocal tradition of Arab and Middle Eastern Music, including songs of famous singers Um Kulthum, Asmahan and Fayrouz, Muwasshahat (an ancient Andalucian form of poetry and music) and more...

Merit has developed a unique vocal tone combining her classical western singing training with her knowledge and feeling for Arabic songs, drawing on her mixed heritage - her mother being German and her father being Egyptian.

We are honoured to be joined by the esteemed and highly experienced Oud player Abdul-Salam Kheir, who will accompany Merit and also play solo during the evening.

Merit Stephanos, singer and composer, studied at the Royal College of Music, Goldsmith College and Edinburgh University. Influenced by her German-Egyptian heritage, Merit unites her classical Western training with a specialisation in Arabic vocal performance. Merit is about to release an album for the ensemble Troia Nova.

Future engagements include a recital for the City of London Festival Winter lunchtime series.
Abdul-Salam Kheir studied classical Arabic singing and oud at the Lebanese conservatoire. Since moving to London, he has performed and recorded with artists as diverse as Led Zeppelin, Flamenco guitarist Juan Martin and opera singer Catherine Bott. As a composer, Abdul-Salam has written songs for many of today's famous Arab singers, including Sabah.
Please RSVP to The Loft to reserve your place.
£6/£5 conc. on the door.

You're welcome to bring a bottle (soft or strong) if you want, nibbles and mineral water will be available.
There may also be another act performing at this event - if so - it will be a surprise!

Sunday December 9 @ the Loft

"Voice as Therapy, Voice as Art"

An unique day at the Loft - Sarah Verney Caird, presents a talk on 'Music Therapy and the Voice' and Sheila Braggins presents a talk on the painter Charlotte Salomon.

Sarah Verney Caird

Sarah will talk about her experience of twenty years as a Nordoff Robbins Music Therapist, and particularly her evolving work with the voice. She will present a case study looking at recent work with a self-referred adult which will also be forming the basis of her forthcoming MA Dissertation. She will also reflect on how her own personal and vocal journeys inform her life, day by day. She will be happy to work with members of the group if there is time.

Sheila Braggins (a voice pupil of Alfred Wolfsohn) presents a lecture, with slides, on the painter Charlotte Salomon.

Charlotte Salomon self-portrait

"Alfred Wolfsohn, alias Amadeus Daberlohn - The Man and his Ideas"

Alfred Wolfsohn was a unique figure in the world of singing following his experiences in 1914-18 war. He evolved a radical approach to the voice and developed a philosophy in line with the evolving consciousness at the time in common with CG Jung.

In the South of France in 1940 Charlotte Salomon reached the depths of despair: "and she found herself facing the question of either committing suicide or doing something wildly eccentric….the memory of an experience of her fervid love came back to her…..and she knew she had to vanish for a while from the human plane and make every sacrifice in order to create her world anew out of the depths .. from that came Life? or Theatre?". Her "fervid love" refers to Alfred Wolfsohn, alias Amadeus Daberlohn in her art autobiography, who in Berlin devoted so much time trying to help her to believe in her own artistic ability and to love life.

Alfred Wolfsohn by Clarlotte Salomon.

The day starts at 10.30am - with Sarah's presentation.
There will be a tea break at around 12.15.
We will have lunch at 1.30.
Bring food to share...!
Sheila will talk from 3pm til 4pm.
We will have Q and A between 4 and 4.45.
Tea till 5.15.
A wind up session with both speakers between 5.15 and 6.

Cost £35, pay on the day. (conc £25).

Please RSVP to Jenni - send to The Loft to reserve your place.
This is an open house event - so please do tell your friends/colleagues!

December 1

Songs of Eden

PLUS....

Balabustah

Bernard Greenwood and Christine Talyor

Violin and accordion duo playing an eclectic mix of Klezmer

(traditional Jewish music of Eastern Europe), Gypsy, and original music.

Special Appearance - November 17th 2007:
Drew Dellinger - spoken word poet, over from the USA on two week tour.

hymn to the sacred body of the universe

let's meet

at the confluence
where you flow into me
and one breath
swirls between our lungs

for one instant
to dwell in the presence of the galaxies
for one instant
to live in the truth of the heart
the poet says this entire traveling cosmos is
"the secret One slowly growing a body"

two eagles are mating -
clasping each other's claws
and turning cartwheels in the sky
grasses are blooming
grandfathers dying
consciousness blinking on and off
all of this is happening at once
all of this, vibrating into existence
out of nothingness

every particle
foaming into existence
transcribing the ineffable

arising and passing away
arising and passing away
23 trillion times per second -
when Buddha saw that,
he smiled

- Excerpt, "hymn to the sacred body of the universe," by Drew Dellinger

Drew Dellinger will be performing after a warm up slot performed by David 9 Lunas, poet and songwriter hailing from Trinidad, Tottenham and Tenerife.
David 9 Lunas

Doors 7pm
Start 7.30pm.
£8. £6 conc.
Bring a bottle - soft or strong. Snacks provided.
RSVP to reserve your place.

November 3rd 2007
doors 7pm, start 7.30pm

Open Salon - "How are we connected?"

Artists appearing :

1 Judith Silver - singer songwriter
2 Avivit - performance artist/dancer/singer
3 Jude Hartley - poet
4 Ines Weyland - piano
5 Bernard Greenwood - klezmer violinist
6 Julie Mckee - singer songwriter
7 Adrian Roye - singer songwriter
8 Michael Adams - actor/singer
9 Jenni Roditi - singer songwriter

£6, plus bring drinks and eats to share.
rsvp to reserve your place.

Saturday September 22nd, 7.30

DOLLYman. Contemporary cool sounds from Kerry Andrew and ensemble. "DOLLYman is an avant-everything collective drawn together from East London's cutting-edge music scene. The four members are all composer/performers and their music takes in jazz leanings, wild and free improvisation, adventurous classical and delicately weird pop." £6 plus bring eats and drinks to share.

15th September 2007

Nancy Ruffer and Dominic Saunders - flute and piano recital.

A light, hour long concert of jazz and folk inspired music for a late summer evening...

Nancy and Dominic have been at the forefront of twentieth century music interpretation and performance in this country for many years.
They are both top players and perform this vibrant and exciting music to an exceptionally high standard.

Lukas Foss: Three American Pieces
Eddie McGuire: Caprice
Michael Parkin: Elegy for alto flute
Faure: Fantasie
Taktakishvili: Sonata
Julian Jacobson: Waltz for Judy
Robert Beaser: Minimal Waltz
Fikret Amirvov: Three Pieces
Eugene Bozza: Aria
Mike Mower: Sonata Latino (first movement)

Sunday September 9th. 3.30

Emma Rothman. Mezzo Soprano - sings arias from the great operas. Up and coming young star who is wowing people with her powerful and invigorating voice. £14, £10, £7. Sliding scale.

Saturday September 1st. 7.30

Unfortunately, Francesca Hanley one of Saturdays three musicians has come down with a bad bout of bronchitis. She is laid up and unable to play.
We have therefore had tocancel.

Hoping to reschedule for later in the year - please keep checking this space.

Catherine Shrubshall - clarinets/saxes, Francesca Hanley - flutes, Simon Allen - stringed and percussive instruments. A new improvising trio debut at the Loft - all highly experienced players and educators with myriad influences - from jazz to contemporary to electro acoustic, come together to track a special journey through Europe in music.

Project Surprise

May 19th

Juice

Juice are an experimental vocal trio who specialise in giving vibrant performances with a theatrical edge. They draw on world music, jazz, folk and pop, have commissioned countless new works and featured on BBC Radio 3's Hear and Now and Mixing It.

Friday May 25th

Gabriella Kapfer 'cello, voice, bowls, gongs, percussion.
'In Tune with the Angels'

Tandj

Gabriella is a sound healer who has developed her own style of sound vibrational healing with cello , voice and singing bowls which she does in co-operation with her guides from the angelic and nature realms. Gabriella’s music is created in co-operation with guides from the angelic and natural realms in attunement with the higher self. It can lead you to a place of deep inner peace from which healing and relaxation can spread throughout the body and old holding patterns can be released, while your mind lets go or goes on an inner journey of revelations….

Gabriella has developed a unique way of playing the cello with a very, very light touch of the bow on the strings. This generates multiple tones simultaneously from the strings and creates a very unusual sound world in combination with her voice which also reaches to some phenomenally high and quiet notes. These delicate lines weave peacefully together and bring the listener to a place of fine attention and deep ease.

She creates her music in co-operation with her guides from the angelic and nature realms. Old holding patterns can be released, while your mind lets go or goes on an inner journey of revelations….

£6 - plus bring something to drink and snack for the interval.
Please RSVP to the Loft to reserve your place. Thanks.

April 21

Robert Norton

Robert is a gifted pianist who takes his audiences on a dynamic healing journey of sound, combining vocal harmonics with piano, keyboards and drums. 1000s of people in Russia have responded enthusiastically to his music over the past 4 years. "I felt healed to deep levels. There is a wholeness present now in your work, which confronts and heals the whole self, with such power and tenderness and purity. Thank you for an exquisite evening." said MaryAnn McCabe, therapist, after his London concert in October.

March 31st

Solo Singer Songwriters

Alisha Sufit

Alisha Sufit was the singer songwriter with the 70s "psych prog folk" band Magic Carpet, whose eponymous first album has since become a cult collectable. Described by Folk Roots magazine as having "a truly superb voice" Alisha sings a wide repertoire of original songs with diverse influences from folk to jazz - sad songs, happy songs, love songs, funny songs, even good old protest songs, self accompanied on Guitar and Appalachian Dulcimer.

Liz Simcock

Acoustic Routes: "Liz Simcock is one of the finest singer/songwriters around. With a strong, expressive voice and high quality songs her music is fresh, original and very entertaining".
Jenni Roditi

Jarmila Xmena Gorna

A very special singer who's work stands alone as a unique voice on the scene. Those of you who came on December 16th won't forget this wonderful woman and her music!

"A sophisticated, soul-bearing vision and audacious one-woman 'Beach Girls' harmonizing. If the stunningly cathartic My Hope and A Seal Upon My Heart's dizzying choir didn't sway this year's Radio 3 World Music Awards judges, we can only marvel at the quality of the artists who did." (Rob Adams, The Herald, Scotland)

"She delivers a vast array of wordless vocal pyrotechnics: deep sultry jazz to wild screeching chants and soaring celestial choirs. The virtuoso piano is of the highest calibre: richly diverse and brilliantly conceived." (Kindred Spirit)

"This album is a GIANT. It’s so everything: new, retro, orchestral, personal, cinematic…FANTASTIC!!!” (Music Outlook, Germany)

"A gorgeous album featuring the power of the human voice to communicate across national and cultural boundaries. Her singing bridges so many genres all at once that it shoots over the heads of classification. These atmospheric pieces have one solid quality in common: absolute passion. Her music truly explodes the palette from which it draws. A dynamic, compelling work." (CD Baby, USA)

with short support set from Jenni, who played her songs The Turning and Wild Geese, in preparation for her forthcoming appearance at Music Orbit's 'Gobsmack' Festival of Unusual Voices at The Spitz.h.

Jarmila Xymena Gorna - voice/piano/electronics

Febuary 10 2007 Telling Tales Salon
Anne Malone: Hang music - introducing a new instrument - a bit like a steel pan...but not... Blue Muse
Anne Gilmartin: 'The Raven & The Moon'. Inuit tale about how a Raven stole the moon from a miser & his daughter who kept it hidden away.
Jessica Loeb: Bowl Singing - free improvisation using voice and temple bowl.
June Peters: Shetland folktale with song and folk fiddle.Arabesque at the British Museum

Interval artists

Ann Brayton Meek - her poem: The Tibetan Bowl.
David 9 Lunas - Blues: voice and guitar.

Second Half
Chana Sophia Yaffe: Tapestry of spiritual song and Chasidic stories. Chana Sophia
Rollin Rachele: Overtone Singing with a well known teacher of the art - Abundant Sun
Farah Meyer: 'Muskhil Gusha' (The Remover of Obstacles) - ancient children's story from Iran, poignantly expressing the journey of the Soul.
Shelly Vickers-Pertz: Her poetry plus Rumi, Hafiz, refugee poetry from Africa, Palestine. Shelley
Bheki Mseleku and Jenni Roditi - Indian music inspired improvisation - Bheki at the piano and singing, Jenni singing.

Saturday 20th January 2007
Susie Self singer/composer launches her new “chill-out” album
MANDALA: guitars, voice, drums, gongs.
“The Mandala is the journey to the centre, to the Self” --Carl Jung.

£10 entrance: includes food + glass of wine

Saturday December 16th 2006
7.00 for 7.30pm
Open Salon -

Tobias Kaye's Sounding Bowls

... And tonight’s theme is... The Blank Canvas!

1 Stella Dickenson and Tobias Kaye : Sounding Bowls with strings - improvisation and talk.
2 Sarah Wawrick : Heart Song
3 Jarmila Zymena Gorna: original open throat songs on jazz piano plus multi-tracked backing vocals
4 Fran Zipang: story from ancient Iraq
5 Mohini Chatlani: Mezzo Soprano, two classical arias
6 Belinda Braggins: her own jazz inspired compositions at the piano
7 Bheki Mseleku: South African legend of spiritual jazz piano

Interval and Dinner

Jarmila Xymena Gorna's set up on the piano

Malka Rosenberg: original songs at the piano
James D’Angelo: piano improvisation based on music by Thelonius Monk
Brian Davis - Two poems
Jenni Roditi: extracts from her opera The Descent of Inanna
Steve Lawson: ambient compositions on electric bass guitar and loops.
£5 plus bring food and drink to share!

"We are the sounders of dreams …"

Sat. 25 Nov, 7.30 pm 2006 - £8
The Loft, Crouch End, London
Booking required: 0208 374 2758
Loft Email

In concert …
"Superb musicianship and intuitive improvisation - music created in the moment."

*FOUR*

Russell Oliver Stone - Russell Stone
Sarah Verney Caird - Sarah Verney Caird
Susan Nares - Susan Nares
Alexander Massey - Alexander Massey

"A diverse group of musicians, we are united by our commitment to spontaneous music making and spiritual expression. We begin by listening deeply into the silence in and around us, waiting to hear what will come through in the moment. As we venture into the shared 'dreaming' space that exists just beyond our ordinary senses, sounds and musical shapes begin to emerge. These may be surprising, amusing, tantalising or even disturbing. We are moving into the unknown here, a collective unknown that has huge potential. The longer we stay there the more exciting it becomes."

Four's new CD 'Rivers of Spirit' is now available.

Gabriella Kapfer - Cello & Voice

Gabriellat

"Gabriella writes and sings songs of the Earth mother and is guided by spirit. So much transpires / is transformed when she plays... you are connected to the nature realm and all life. Peace flows and settles your soul." (Dr Katherine Wright PhD, Vitability Associates)
"I can hear a real glimpse of heaven in your music. You are able to convey truth in your sound. It was like you died and then brought something back with you from the other side all in one session. Thank you." (Louis, professional rock-musician)

Guillermo Rosenthuler - Oct 28th 2006 9pm. Doors 8pm.
£10 / £7.

Firey Latin singer and guitarist with bass and percussion, plus special guests.
Contemporary music from the Pampas and beyond

"A journey through the unexpected zones of the exciting musical landscape of South America" Time Out.

September 9th 2006

Sounding the Kabbalah
An evening of meditation and music with Philip Clouts.

"With the melodies of song, the soul awakens to its root, elevating its spark and reaching supernal states."
Ibn Sahula

Join me for a unique experience within the ancient Jewish mystical tradition of the Kabbalah - a meditation to harmonise the energies of the body and soul, and a performance which expresses universal energies in sound, facilitating a deeper and more expanded state of consciousness.

In the Kabbalah the ten spheres, or sephirot, within the tree of life are emanations of God, and also correspond to energy centres within the body.

Through deep introspection and intense research I have developed a sounding of the sephirot with some improvised and some specially composed music. I have integrated elements of the Jewish musical tradition with inspirations from Indian devotional music and personal soundings in the landscape to arrive at an authentic tonality using voice and piano.

Philip Clouts
After studying social anthropology at Cambridge and psychotherapy at the Minster Centre, Philip has devoted his professional life to music with further studies in jazz at the Guildhall School of Music. His work as a pianist and composer has involved extensive touring in the UK and Europe, and performance on many jazz and world music CDs, with his groups Zubop, Klezmania and the Philip Clouts Trio.

Sounding the Kabbalah is informed by many years of study of Jewish mysticism, and was recently performed at the Portland Festival of Devotional Music.

Doors Open 7pm. Start 7.30pm
£7 (£5 concession).
Soft drinks available in the interval.

July 1st 2006

Lawson and Thuested instruments

Left: Steve Lawson's Bass Guitars and loop boxes and Thor Thuested's live electronics table in the background. Right: Alwynne Pritchard and Roland Sutherland.

Debut concert by Ensemble Myrtle

Compositions by four highly acclaimed contemporary music innovators.

Steve Lawson - bass guitars and loop boxes - his ambient compositions.

Interval

Alwynne Pritchard : composer and vocals
Thorolf Thuestad : live electronics
Roland Sutherland: Flute and loops
Roger Gouda: Guitar

June 3rd 2006

Is-ness Salon

Right: The Mode Choir - Lennox Brown, Alison Thomson, Virginia Firnberg and Anna.

Marilyn Herman - Raglan Road - Denise Alonzo, soprano and Jon Russell, electric guitar.
"When an angel wooes the clay, she'll lose her wings at the dawn of day."
Alexander Massey, tenor. David Roth, violin – four songs - two traditional, two original, by Alexander.
The Ash Grove – trad. I'se the boy - trad.
3 Songs Without Words for voice and violin, Song of Lughnasadh (words by Caitlin Matthews)
The Modes - A Capella Choir – with Virginia Firnberg, Alison Thompson, Anna and Lennox Brown.
Russell Stone, voice - just listening.

Dinner

Jenni Roditi - The First Breath of Me – voice and piano.
Steve Higgins, electric guitar - a meditation exploring colours and landscapes of the electric guitar.
Belinda Braggins - piano.
Avishai Cohen – Remembering BB - Hocket tune, Henry Jegou - Montuna and solo from Tranquilo, BB - Just visiting
Jenni Roditi - Love Stays Still – voice and electric guitar.

6th May 2006

Catherine Nardiello: piano recital of contemporary music by women composers
including Diana Burrell, Susan Nares, Catherine Plugyers, Ruth Gipps.

April 8th 2006: 9pm – 11pm
Bheki Mseleku
A rare opportunity to hear South Africa’s internationally acclaimed jazz pianist and saxophonist play solo in the intimate atmosphere of the Loft.

"intensifying, heartfelt global jazz". (The Guardian, Feb 06)

Bheki Mseleku is one of the world’s finest musicians. Not to be missed!
Door donation: £15/£10 concessions.

Saturday 25th March 2006: 6.30pm – 10.30 pm
Vegan Love Dinner Party with Myra Panascia - Sicilian Goddess of the kitchen!
£38 for a full three-course meal, fresh juices, plus lots of tips on healthy eating!

Sunday 12th March 2006: 4 p.m.
Ashoka & Rishabh Dhar concert
North Indian Druphad style of singing – the most ancient form of Indian music. Amazing music.
£10 door donation.

Saturday 25th February 2006: 7pm – 11pm
Open Salon
"Staying Open and Standing your Ground"
Virginia Firnberg, contemporary classical composer with -
Denise Alonzo, soprano
Denise Ammar – poet
Merit Stephanos, voice – medley of unaccompanied Arabic tunes with improvisation
Russell Stone, voice and Alexander Massey, voice - improvising on ‘Staying Open and Standing your Ground’

Interval

Alisha Sufit, singer songwriter – songs of love and politics
Faye Patton – funky piano and sharp songs
Louise Larchbourne – reading poetry of her mother Rosamund Stanhope
Jenni Roditi – her latest songs : ‘Good Tears’, ‘What’s No More’
Donation £3/£5 door.

Sunday 12th February 2006, 4pm – 6pm
Drama Workshop run by Araxi Djian and Kate O’Connell.
If you would like to come along – it’s free, and a chance for these two friends of mine to try out working together for the first time.
For more information contact Araxi

With an upbringing drenched in Welsh Choral singing and the Cerddant and Penillion singing of the Eisteddfodau, Sianed left Wales and travelled the world researching vocal techniques. From Egypt to Madagascar From East Africa to Kyrgistan From Kazakhstan to Mongolia Her songs weave an intoxicating mix of influences.

Archived Loft Events

June 13th

Saturday May 24th

Sunday May 11 @ the Loft