bennett hogg

i was born in northumberland, uk, in 1961, and studied composition with nigel osborne and denis smalley. an eclectic background built on formal study of contemporary classical music, including scottish and northumbrian fiddle playing, free improv, a masters in ethnomusicology, community education projects, music and mental health work, theatre and various part-time teaching jobs in universities and art colleges. currently working fulltime at university of newcastle. i must have done something really horrible to someone in a previous incarnation. - - - some extracts from stuff i've been involved in recently can be found above. "ghost of the possible" features me on violin, along with my chums in the band "wormhole", will edmondes (aka gwilly edmondez) on bass, and john ferguson on electric guitars and pedals and god alone knows what else. recorded 2006, insofar as it has a label it's kakutopia, which is something that will does, on his own, in his own home. it was broadcast on BBC radio 3 not that long ago, which is recognition, of a sort, i guess - - - "my little pop group" have played locally and in Sweden, but are currently in a "resting mode." that said, it has been one of the most enjoyable set ups i've ever played in, with john ferguson on guitars and stuff, again, will schrimshaw on drums and electronics, and john ayers on bass clarinet and electronics. - - - january 2007 is a series of four tracks made in.....january 2007.....with my mate sten-olof hellstrom, nordic god of chaos and faulty XLR cables, of which this is one track, the others will be appearing here from time to time - - - finally, there's the piece finished in jamuary this year at the lovely EMS studios in stockholm. imagine living somewhere that the government funds six excellent studios that never charge their users! and it's right on the waterfront, too. - - - new projects are on the way - ace swedish guitar improviser david stackenas in residence in newcastle in december, visits from tao vrhovec-sambolec, william lane, john irvine and others, and plans for wider "distributed" collaborations starting to get active. going to be working with julian siegel (who just got voted BBC jazz musician of the year - yay!) and magnus andersson in stockholm. interesting times!!!