Listening Project
Conversation between friends, Richard and Claire, about their close friendship and their careers as internationally renowned jazz musicians.
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Type
sound
Duration
00:48:43
Shelf mark
C1500/0224
Recording date
2012-09-19
Is part of (Collection)
The Listening Project
Recording locations
BBC Western House studio, London
Interviewees
Martin, Claire, 1967- (female, Musician), Bennett, Richard Rodney, 1936-2012 (male, Musician and Composer)
Producers
BBC Sussex
Recordist
Furber, Simon
Abstract
Sir Richard Rodney Bennett lives and works in New York, but returns ‘home’ to London three times a year to spend time and perform on stage with his close friend Claire Martin. Claire is one of the most famous jazz singers in the country. The age difference is 31 years but the chemistry between the pair is beautiful. Claire gently teases Richard and he loves it but comes back with some delightfully terse English language. This conversation is all about vulnerability. Claire and Richard discuss having therapy for very different reasons. Richard begins by talking about having therapy to conquer his smoking habit but then he became addicted to therapy and his therapist helped him through some old family problems. During the conversation Richard is shocked to learn that his close friend Claire also had therapy too. The pair discuss America and how Richard knew Sondheim and Bernstein and used their names to get his green card to live in America. Richard is keen to qualify that New York is his home and not America. They talk amusingly about Americanisms in their language. Claire also asks Richard if his mum knew he was gay. They continue to discuss how being gay doesn’t matter in the music industry.
Description
The Listening Project conversations collectively form a picture of our lives and relationships today. Recordings were made by BBC producers of people sharing an intimate conversation, lasting up to an hour and on a topic of the speakers' choice.
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