bentenlaughing

‘ Personal Belongings’ (A one act play/monologue) by Argentine writer Diana Raznovich and ‘Austerlitz’ by the late German novelist, W. G. Sebald share common themes of dictatorship, exile, immigration (arrival and departures) and the maintenance of ‘facades’ of the personal, architectural and political. Both texts examine the ordinary life encased in extraordinary circumstances, panic driven angst located in the mundane. Both texts share protagonists who lack knowledge of their past.  Where they’ve come from, where they’re going can only be established through naming the world around them either with or without a witness. In ‘Austerlitz’ it is whilst visiting the city of Antwerp (Belgium) that the omniscient narrator of the story finds himself imbued in Kafka-esque presentiments of being unwell.  From the opening pages with black and white photographs, eyes of both animals and humans remind us of ‘the fixed, inquiring gaze found in certain painters and philosophers who see...

Jan.s:  Gordon, you've been inspired by and collaborated with some of the most gifted popular singers/musicians of this century: Stevie Wonder, Harry Chapin, Herbie Hancock to name a few. Gordon: When I look back, it looks like a dream. I didn't have the shame or  embarrassment I would have today to approach these great artists. At 15, you still haven't put limits on yourself, and those artists felt that.  They were generous, patient, and amazing to watch in action. Stevie Wonder would be playing around on a keyboard talking to me, while I'd mix his tea and honey; meanwhile he was writing "Isn't She Lovely" casually. I had no idea what he was actually creating... The problem was returning to high school for a few weeks every year or so, and going back to reality after being with these giants. It was surreal and unbearable. Jan.s:  Gordon, a beautiful dream come to realization!    Gordon:  Yes. We met at Crystal Studios, in L.A. It's wher...

Jan.s: Peter, can you tell me what the driving force is behind your playing? Peter: One of my motivations was to make a living without doing a boring 40-hour a week day job all my life Jan. Of course, always there is the love of music. I didn't actually start playing till I was 20, but for years before that I was endlessly at the radio listening to any music I could find, Sixties Rock, Jazz, Latin you name it. When I started learning guitar the driving force was to play with others, get into a band. When that happened it was a joy. Jan.s: Who were you learning from Peter? Peter: At first I taught myself, but being into jazz I soon realised I'd taken on a huge task & decided that some tuition would speed things up. My first teacher was Jack Richards at Guitar City. I owe him a lot, great player, great teacher. Later I would take a few lessons from Don Andrews, George Golla and from Antonio Losada for classical guitar. However in jazz, once you hav...

Jan.s: Sandie, I became aware of your presence in the Sydney jazz scene  during the 1980's I believe. Sandie:Yes Janice that is true – I had stopped singing for quite a number of years – and one day I was invited out by a young man (haha) who took me to a pub abd there was my old friend Jack Allen.  To cut a long story short – he went to another gig and then 3 weeks later said I have a new gig and I want you to be my singer!  So suddenly there I was  back singing again!  Fortunately I had about 5 months with him and then started to work with other people who were really nice to me when they found I was back singing. Jan.s: You exude the kind of know how and vocal style that takes me back to one of the first Australian jazz singers I heard in the 1960's, our own Kate Dunbar. Sandie:  Well that’s interesting I must say – I mean Kate Dunbar is an absolute icon in Australian jazz – an amazing lady and I have the feeling that she really knows a lot more tha...

This is an introduction to the process that I entered into in order to create ARTERIAL FLOW and I will be happy to share with you this process in future posts.  I'd love to receive your feedback! I'd like to begin by sharing part of the journey made to create 'Arterial Flow' with my collaborator Kirk Kadish. 'It is the mind that stops the flow and a change of mind that will release it too. We simply follow the course of nature, the natural pathways and rhythms, with our mind, and the fluids will respond'. 'The Wisdom of the Body Moving' by Linda Hartley. ARTERIAL FLOW: janice slater & kirk kadish 1: ARTERIAL FLOW (Arterial Flow) 2 VENUS RED (Venous Blood) 3 CAP ICE (Isoring Fluids) 4 CRYSTAL DELTA (Lymph) 5 CLOUD OF UNKNOWING (Cerebro Spinal Fluids) 6 PANAMA (Interstital Fuids) 7 BIOS (Cellular Fluids) 8 RHYTHM BRIDGE (Synovi...

Jan.s: Gail, You have a passion for land care and are committed to issues in your area. Can you share with us about the nature of the environment where you are and what problems you're addressing... Gail:  Janice, I have so many concerns. Where to start? I’ve lived on a beautiful waterway for 25 years now and have noticed a lot of problems. These include reclaiming saltmarsh swamps, destruction of Mangroves, building retaining walls on the waters edge, litter and an increase in silt, because of the local damn and run off from the Sand Mining and other Industries on the Ridge. However, I think my main area of concern and also my area of knowledge, is protecting remnant bush from invasive and environmental weeds and regenerating the areas, which have been ravaged, with indigenous plants. By doing this, we the local community, can also protect our area of the catchment and make a greater connection to the planet. I was involved ...

Nicole:  I remember when we first met. Your gorgeous nephew Brett drove me to the Central coast New South Wales, where you were residing at the time. There was something very quaint and beautiful about that sweet little house resting on the shores of the inlet around there. I felt as though you were family as soon as I saw you. You wore your hair back into a ponytail with a little soft fringe. Every time I saw you at a side glance, this amazing feeling of seeing myself in you kept coming to me. When I walked around the rooms of your home, you had so many wonderful and intriguing pictures of Tibetan spiritual Masters and Yogis. (Remember you had them there to protect you). In which case they certainly brought much magic into that place. When I looked into their eyes I felt a feeling of great knowing. These faces were of people that knew, what I was seeking. Jan.s:  Nicole when we first met what struck me most was your incredible openness ...