Next in our “Meet the Artist” series is the amazing Betty Kean!
Betty Kean is a multi-instrumentalist specializing in playing woodwinds and making you feel something! She’s a playful and adventurous spirit who loves to apply her background in improvisation to a variety of disciplines. She co-writes, plays, and sings for her band Beche (don't ask what genre!) as well as her own solo project. She teaches and freelances in theatre and jazz circles. Her work as the musician for Flying Leap is a beautiful culmination of her talents and passions!
We asked Betty three questions about her work:
What is one of the core values or approaches in your work as an artist?
“I'm always searching for a new way to approach a thing. I believe improvisation can lead us as artists into a new direction if we document and learn from ourselves! One of my favorite ways to improve upon my playing and personal style is to record my improvisations and then learn the bits that I like (by ear of course). There's always a few nuggets of gold to expand upon, and this deepens my own sense of style when improvising in the future.”
What is something you have coming up artistically that you’re excited about?
“I'm VERY excited to bring a drum-less jazz trio to Turk's Inn in Bushwick on Sunday 8/10. It will be upright bass, guitar, and myself on either sax, flute or clarinet, depending on the song. We'll play lots of my new compositions and some jazz classics as well. I also have some new music coming out from the band I co-lead with my bestie, "Beche" !! A few of the singles from our forthcoming EP are on streaming platforms already :)”
What is one memorable moment on a Flying Leap Project?
'“For me, a moment that stands out is when we performed The Garden at the Brooklyn Children's Museum. The Garden was devised to be outside so that attendees can connect with nature in their local parks, but we did a few performances in the greenhouse of the BCM. I remember the awe and wonder from adults and children alike when we started playing with the milkweed. Since we were inside, each piece of the milkweed floated around in the space with such slowness that it forced you to slow down and have a moment. I love the way these moments inspire playfulness and presence of mind!”
