INTERVIEW
What is it you love about poetry, and have you always loved to write poems?
In terms of influence – many writers: Benjamin Zephaniah, Ocean Vuong, Saul Williams, Maya Angelou, Amanda Gorman, Thich Nhat Hanh. The historic roles of poetry in sharing thought, in education, in all forms of love, memorisation, in activism, in grief, in joy, in resistance, in persistence and in recording dreams amongst many possibilities deeply affects language and its continual evolution. In terms of my writing – being set off by a word, phrase, saying or thought – that resonates and speaks to me at the right time.In general it might be that there is a matter that needs my attempt at an answer. Or something that is trying to fly from one place to another lesser known destination – and I do my best to provide fuel and guide the journey (regardless of the length). It is the magic that can be unlocked buy this heightened language. It is the musicality and personality of a poetic effort as it gathers momentum – and tells the writer when to stop. It is the endless revisions for one particular sentence – where another whole poem may need very few. It is helping the words sing without any attachment to pitches and without any arrangement into melody. It is the mystery of not being able to hear the voice of the inspiration or ultimate interpreter in my ear. And it certainly is the joy of having any of these narrated in performance (live or recorded) or performed by myself. I have written poetry coming out of many years of writing lyrics for songs (since the 90s). I have always tried to make them as poetic as I can until I reached a point of not always having to have them exist as lyrics. And to begin and end with the idea of a lone voice narrating.
Do you feel there is a connection between poetry and music?
It is all music. The connections are rhythmic (with stress, speed, metre, repetition, modulation, phrasing, pauses, silence etc), tonal (built into the language of choice to varying degrees – and to which extent they are manipulated to emphasise change), intentional (interpretative, improvisational, narratively flexible) amongst many more – where song is the extremely powerful place where they can (but do not always do) meet.
How do you feel poetry sits in relation to your work as a professional pianist composer?
It is a highly valued part of what I do – so it is sitting together with the music as an younger sibling (which feels an odd thing to say as an only child but – that is what it feels like). This part is not as recognised but – there have been a few nice reviews in the last few years about the poetic side of things.
What are the key inspirations within your Poetry collection 2017 – 26?
Peace. Understanding between people (some of whom are determined to keep us separated and at each other’s throats). Nature. Awareness. Music. Dreams. Humanity. Improvement. Creativity. Truth. Consensus. Balance. Navigation through very fraught times. A deep belief that the collective best of us still lies ahead.
What plans do you have in the future for your new Poetry collection?
I have included this within a hardback compilation of all four books written so far – which is easier to travel with to be able to offer on a number of upcoming performances. There is an audiobook version on my Bandcamp alongside the digital pdf too. All are available to order from the Bandcamp site. Even better would be to come to a show and purchase a signed copy! I will do selected narration videos for some of these as well. As has become a tradition I usually include poetry on the performances (and would love to do some where I only narrate!).
What do you have coming up for 2026?
The first students will take exams this year using this book from the ABRSM – including a piece by myself:
I am touring with my trio Little Black Book – supporting the debut album (Blueprint Of An Infinite Gift – Whirlwind Recordings 2025) with the superb Laurie Lowe and Zayn Mohammed. I am performing with The Flame (starring the excellent Olie Brice and Johnny Hunter) and a very overdue duo with vibraphone lion Corey Mwamba (we have recorded a forthcoming album out on Discus Music later this year). I will be solo at the Wainsgate Piano Weekend and later this year at the Houghton Festival. I am touring with the legend Courtney Pine, performing in duo with Omar Puente and have more with sax hero Vaughan Hawthorne-Nelson and wonderful young vocalist Tess Hirst. And I will have an announcement on the first show with the improv supremo Maggie Nicoals and Alya Al-Sultani (in support of our debut – Immersion – released on Discus this year). The listing for May and June is below – please come down (as I will have cds, vinyl, piano and poetry books to share!).
MAY
3 May Courtney Pine – Cheltenham Jazz Fest
7 + 8 May Courtney Pine – Ronnie Scott’s
9 May Duo with Corey Mwamba – Samuel Worth Chapel – Keystones Piano Festival – Sheffield
10 May Solo – Wainsgate Piano Weekend – Hebden Bridge (3.30pm)
12 May Courtney Pine – Norwich Theatre
16 May Little Black Book – Cardiff Yardbird
17 May Little Black Book – Bristol Beacon
22 May The Flame – Vortex Jazz Club London
30 May Little Black Book – Karamel London
31 May Courtney Pine Pine – Blue Tone Festival Taunton
JUNE
13 June Courtney Pine – Sage Gateshead
14 June Courtney Pine -Glasgow Jazz Fest
19 June Tess Hirst – Lighthouse – Poole
20 June Duo with Omar – Highgate fest London
21 June Courtney Pine – Band On The Wall Manchester
26 June Vaughan Hawthorne-Nelson 4tet – Vortex Jazz Club London
