News Stories about Alabaster dePlume

We behave differently depending on who’s present, and talk differently depending on who we’re speaking to. With this in mind, Alabaster dePlume is inviting people to contribute their attendance at Antwerp Mansion (Manchester) on Tuesday 9th September, to effect an atmosphere and thus influence the performance during a studio recording session. In return he’s going to feed them.

This isn’t a gig, it’s a live room with diners in it.

Alabaster believes that the more personalities that can be heard on a record the more dimensions the record has. We’re inviting you to provide their greatest possession, their character, in influencing the air that will be magnetising our rolls of analogue tape.

The occasion is by invitation only – get in touch via the Contact page if you are interested in joining us.

“Truth is often the jester.”

Ten join pianist Daniel Inzani (The Mandibles, Count Bobo and the Bullion) and poet/singer/saxophonist Alabaster dePlume (Honeyfeet, Liz Green) in creating a wash of fugues, invocations and tunes.

Employing unusual and cut-throat practices, analogue equipment was used to capture the creative expressions and communications of the 12-piece ensemble, live. Spontaneity, sincerity, and humour taking stubborn precedence, the characters of all involved have formed this delightful, unique and deeply moving piece of work.

The ensemble is comprised of Dartington graduates and legends of the local scene, members of Count Bobo and the Bullion, the Mandibles (“evocative, idiosyncratic and even slightly absurd” – Venue Magazine) and Bert Miller and the Animal Folk. It features Sheelanagig’s Aaron Catlow, alongside the cellos of Beth Horton, Pepino’s Jessica Macdonald, Moulettes‘ Hannah Miller, and a feast of creative performers from far and wide.

As part of the project, a large collection of artists are producing images in response to the material, which will be presented both online and physically at the launch in Bristol. A crowd-funding campaign is being set up, to make the bold and uncommon move of paying the artists. Support the campaign here.

An open-source recorded improvisation from the studio session is available, and sound-artists are being encouraged to produce remixes.

The record will be available on CD, vinyl and download on the 8th July, and will be accompanied by the following concerts in celebration:

12th July – 3MT, Manchester
13th July – 3MT, Manchester
14th July – Kazimir, Liverpool
20th July – Folk House, Bristol

• The Jester website
• SoundCloud: www.soundcloud.com/thejesterproject
• Twitter

“Copernicus Live”, the recording of Alabaster dePlume’s album launch at Manchester’s Antwerp Mansion, is now on general release. It features performances from Jamie Harrison, Paddy Steer, Louis Barabbas and dePlume himself, with a supporting cast of luminaries including Ríoghnach Connolly, Hannah Miller (from Moulettes) and John Ellis.

Buy it direct from Alabaster dePlume’s online shop.