Jazz booker and promoter

 Saxophonist Gilad Atzmon performing at Flavia Brilli's Central Bar Jazz Club, Old Street, London

HOW A WINDOW CLEANER GETS ME A JAZZ CLUB

Life has a funny way of handing out opportunities. And none could be sillier than my conversion to Jazz booker/promoter. Caught between acting jobs, I found myself running a bar that was no more than a converted horses stable at the rear of a large Victorian Pub in Victoria Park. Despite the persistent efforts of the owners, the bar, which was tiny, had remained virtually empty since its inception.

'Do as you please with it they said' 'Just get us some cliental in'. So, I went about doing exactly that. But since it's my nature to do a little more than just play hostess and serve the clients, I decided to add some music nights recruiting muscians from late night bars around Camden. Each night was packed to the hilt leaving little room for even miniscule me to weave between the tables with the drinks. And, that was when one of my regulars a window cleaner called Peter suggested I pop over to Central Bar and introduce myself to the manager Nigel who had an empty upstairs floor dying to be filled.

A couple of nights of music in a bar the size of a small horse's stable hardly constitutes an impressive career as a Jazz Booker/promoter, and would of course produce a very thin CV indeed. But, necessity is the mother of invention, so I got to work with a helpful friend cobbling together what looked like at first glance a very impressive folio of Jazz gigs and contacts from all around London; including, of course, an enormous amount of shall we say 'stretching of the truth'.

When I first entered Nigel's bar, I knew instantly it would be a wonderful place to work, as all the staff were happy as Larry, which is always a sign management is nice. And so Nigel was. Of course, I'm sure he wasn't completely convinced by my folio of Jazz greats and invaluable contacts, and most likely just gave me the job because he thought she's clearly determined as hell to do this. Which I was.  And so began my life as the Jazz booker/promoter of the Central Bar in London thanks to Peter who cleaned Central Bar's windows.

Art Themen and Guy Barker at Central Bar Jazz Club, London. Promoter and Booker Flavia Brilli

                                                                                     

Evening Standard Letter from Jazz critic Jack Massarik

Letter from Jazz Critic Jack Massarik of the London Evening Standard recommending Promoter and booker Flavia Brilli of Central Bar Jazz Club

Interior of Central bar Jazz Club

Interior of Central bar Jazz Club with one of my silver sunburst mirror designs in background

London Evening Standard Reviews for Central Bar Jazz Club. 

Promoter and Booker Flavia Brilli

The Guardian Review. Central Bar Jazz Club. Pianist Zoe Rahman. 

Booker and Promoter Flavia Brilli

The Guardian Newspaper Reviews for Central Bar Jazz Club. 

Promoter and Booker Flavia Brilli

Time Out Listings for Central Bar Jazz Club. 

Promoter Flavia Brilli

                                

Legendary Altoist Peter King seen here playing at Ronnie Scott's was a regular performer at Central Bar 

(see Time Out, Evening Standard listings/brochure above)

Guitarist Jim Mullen, seen here performing at the Boisdale Music Awards who was regular performer with his quartet at the Central Bar Jazz Club 

(see Time Out listings above)

Legendary Trumpeter Guy Barker performing with guitarist Martin Taylor who also peformed at the Central Bar 

(see Time Out listing and brochure above)

Damon Brown Quintet performing at Porgy and Bess Jazz Club, Vienna, 2009. Damon was a regular performer with his quartet at the Central Bar 

(see Time Out listing and brochure above)

 Celebrated Israeli born British Saxophonist and member of the 'Blockheads', Gilad Atzmon. A regular performer at the Central Bar with his Quartet and Orient Ensemble 

(see Guardian and Evening Standard listing)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Bar_jazz_club

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Photographer

 Photographs I've taken on walks around Kotor bay.

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Sculptress

Sculpture of Boris Johnson by Flavia Brilli

 How my love of the Brighton Museum and Toby jugs inspired my sculpture

Born in Brighton, and since a child, I made regular trips to the Brighton and Hove museum which at that time had a beautiful, well-furnished library. For me, the museum became an essential part of my life. For books, for inspiration, for humour, for nostalgia. It summed up everything I knew and loved about Brighton. 

Downstairs there was a beautiful gallery of deco furniture, ceramics, and paintings which could be viewed as well from the upstairs tea rooms. I spent so many days revisiting the gallery gloating at the deco artefacts. 

When I returned many years later after a long sojourn in London, I found the museum had undergone a dramatic overhaul, and the new layout drew me to the ceramics display which was absolutely stunning. So engaged with the wonderful idiosyncratic,  unique designs, I was unaware that I was the last person in the museum. But the kindly security guard let me linger just a little longer, and that was the visit that sewed the seeds for a future project.

Much later, on one of my long thinking walks, when Boris Johnson was Mayor of London, I suddenly saw the perfect subject matter for a ceramic figure. And since I loved the humour of the Toby jug format, I decided to take inspiration from this particularly English genre of ceramic sculpture and produce something that explored this ceramic theme.

My Boris Johnson sculpture intentionally doesn't conform to the Toby jug format of handle and jug, but borrows the humour and fun of Toby jugs and blends it with the character of Boris Johnson. During Boris's time as Mayor of London, he was well known for his love of cycling to work each day, and well known for his humorous antics. So it was a wonderful challenge to combine a figure with a bike, with plenty of humour and fun, but which would also be anchored in time by a unique, historic event: the 2012 Olympics in Britain.

 

The beautiful facade of the Brighton and Hove Museum which I visited so often in my childhood. All my design work is inspired and informed by my enduring love for my home town Brighton. A place forever associated in my mind with all that is fun, stylish, and elegant.

Thank you letters from Boris Johnson

Handwritten thank you letter from Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, sent to my home for 2012 Olympic Games commemorative sculpture

Official Thank you letter from Mayor's Office, London

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Designer

How a beautiful Art Nouveau shop front inspired my mirror designs

 

Once upon a time, on the corner of Camden Road in London, there sat a beautiful 1920's shop with a curved glass window; an oak frame replete with ribbons; and, a lovely oak door. It had been in its past a gentleman's tailor. And, the stunning window display with oak stage was the showcase for the bespoke suits and tailoring. 

I can only imagine the tailor dummies in the window standing proudly on the stage, as I never had the opportunity to see this with my own eyes. But, when I first saw my beautiful shop through the window of a bus driving down Camden Road, I fell instantly in love. 

Sadly, there are so few great examples of Art Nouveau shop fronts left in London; even though it is the last great period of architectural design. The arabesque swirls and ornamental scrolls which are the popular motifs of Art Nouveau, also became the motifs of my own work. And, although I could never count my designs as anything but a humble attempt to make something a little different than your average mirror design, I was very happy and grateful to have such a beautiful shop to showcase them in. Since to own or even lease a genuine Art Nouveau Shop front is a great privilege.

MIRROR DESIGNS

Blue 'Sunburst' mirror by Flavia Brilli featured in 'Homeflair Magazine' .

Elle Decoration November 1996

Essentials Magazine Orange Wave Mirror

The Essentials Magazine April 1996

Homeflair May 1995 Star Mirror

The London Magazine January 1996

For a complete overview of my work on wikipedia, go to the link below:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jazz_Frames

For more in depth detail about each design and their stories, go to my blog:

https://flaviabrillimirrordesigns.blogspot.com/

For a quick look at all the designs together, visit my pinterest page:

https://www.pinterest.co.uk/flaviabrilli/mirror-designs-by-flavia-brilli/

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Television and Film

 

'Beadles About'

One of the most popular TV shows on British television. Had loads of fun performing in the series. Both cast and crew were wonderful to work with.

HOW A HAIRCUT GETS ME A CONTRACT WITH BEADLE'S ABOUT

Since I was a child of the 1960s, when I hit my 20s, haircut trends had taken a very strange turn for the worse. A quick glance at the 1980s pop bands should give you a fair understanding of the diabolical hairdos we were sporting: mullets, jheri curls, flattops, mohawks, and hi-top fades, as well, of course, a perm to achieve maximum volume were all the popular choices of rock stars and the guys and girls on the street at that time. Television shows, such as Dynasty, unfortunately, helped popularise the desired high volume bouffant so many of us associated with a glamorous image. Never mind if the haircut of your choice was entirely unsuitable and unflattering, as with all things connected to trends, just being trendy was the aim.

My choice, as an art student at that time, was to copy Captain Sensible's peroxide blonde cut. But after discovering all blonde was not a good look for me, I rashly converted to two tones, leaving the blonde bit in the center. Was it flattering? Perhaps not. But it caught the attention of the director of a 'Beadles About' show which revolved around a hairdressing theme. So, there you have it! My diabolically awful haircut gets me summoned by the director for a private chinwag and confirmation from me that I had an Actor's Equity card. Which I did. And so begins my life as a bonafide tv actress.

'Beadle's About' revolved around practical jokes played on unsuspecting members of the public, using hidden cameras to record their often hilarious reactions. Everyone else involved in the joke was of course an actor. At its peak, the show attracted 15 million viewers, making it one of the most popular Saturday night programmes during that time.

 

Beadles About Videos

'Beadle's About' The Dodgy Plumber ITV, featuring Jeremy Beadle and actress Flavia Brilli

'Beadle's About' featuring singer and actress Flavia Brilli playing ' Obnoxious neighbour', ' Dating agency owner' and ' Unhappy car owner'

Screenshots of actress Flavia Brilli playing ' Obnoxious neighbour', ' Dating agency owner', ' Unhappy car owner', and ' Restaurant waitress'.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beadle%27s_About

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0109385/

FILM

The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover

by Peter Greenaway

Flavia Brilli walking through the restaurant scene in the film 'The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover'

before performing the song 'Something Sometime Soon' by composer Michael Nyman.

 Flavia Brilli performing the song 'Something Sometime Soon' 

by Michael Nyman

HOW A RAINY NIGHT IN AND A LUNCH DATE LANDS ME A FILM PART

On a dull rainy evening, I found myself glued to the television watching Peter Greenaway's film 'The Draughtsman's Contract'. Engaged as I was by the sumptuous visuals and eccentric narrative, it was the music that caught my attention and stayed with me long after the film ended. Checking the credits, I saw that the composer responsible was Michael Nyman, so I hastily got on the phone to my music manager Don Mousseau, and asked him if he could set up a meeting. At that point, my only desire was to meet the man behind the wonderful compositions. So, simply a fan wanting to meet the talent. But over lunch something clicked, and Nyman invited me to his home for a chat. Eventually, this led to me landing the part of the cabaret singer who walks across the restaurant scene and sings the song 'Something Sometime Soon' written by Michael.

VOGUE MAGAZINE

Stills from the film 'The Cook, The Thief, His Wife and Her Lover'

by photographer Michel Haddi for Vogue magazine

Photograph of Flavia Brilli by photographer Michel Haddi for Vogue Magazine

Photograph of Flavia Brilli in Jean Paul Gaultier dress by photographer Michel Haddi for Vogue Magazine

OPTIONS MAGAZINE INTERVIEW

'Flavia of the Month'

FILM CREDITS

Cabaret singer Flavia Brilli

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