Access, ancestry and a flute made from a leg

This week, Steve shares a powerful, surprising, and often jaw-dropping conversation with musician, composer and activist Jono Enser.Jono is a gifted multi-instrumentalist and a member of Nubiyan Twist, but he’s also a disabled artist whose recent experiences as an amputee have sparked a radical rethinking of performance, access, and the body as instrument — quite literally. Together, they explore:The challenges and realities of touring as a disabled musicianHow venue design (or lack of it) creates systemic barriers to inclusionThe radical creativity of reclaiming trauma — including Jono’s current project turning his amputated leg bone into a working fluteMusical ancestors: from Neanderthal bone flutes to Tibetan thighbone trumpetsWhy accessibility isn’t just a bolt-on feature — it’s a cultural responsibilityAnd what it means to give your pain a voice, breath, and songPlus, Steve shares a clip from his Ocean Songs sunrise performance at Benacre Broad — part of his work with the Blue Machine project, inspired by Dr. Helen Czerski’s oceanography book of the same name.There’s a lot packed in here, and it’s one of the most wide-ranging and deeply personal episodes yet.🎟 Jono’s band Nubiyan Twist are touring this summer – check them out.🎶 His solo project Matters Unknown is also worth diving into.🎤 Steve is performing live at ALSO Festival and on July 11th at the National Maritime Museum with Blue Machine – see originofthepieces.com for details.—🧡 Support the podcast and get exclusive content at:patreon.com/StevePrettyOnTheOriginofthePieces🎧 Listen, watch, share and review: it all helps the podcast grow.📍 More info at originofthepieces.com00:00 – Welcome back + Acid Brass recapSteve introduces the episode and reflects on his recent chat with Jeremy Deller.02:00 – Meet Jono EnserJono’s musical upbringing, his shift from trumpet to tuba, and the spiritual resonance of breath.07:00 – Life as a touring amputeeThe hidden and not-so-hidden barriers for disabled musicians on the road.10:00 – Access is everywhere (or isn’t)From venue layouts to door weights and bar heights — access means more than ramps.14:00 – What artists and venues can actually doPractical steps, responsibility, and why checking access before the gig matters.18:00 – Ocean Songs interludeSteve shares a clip from his beachside dawn performance as part of the Blue Machine project.23:00 – A flute made from his own amputated legJono’s extraordinary project connecting trauma, ancestry, and sonic experimentation.28:00 – Resonance, ritual, and reclaiming spaceCaves, Ambisonics, somatic practice and ecological listening.32:00 – Music as breath and transformationWhy giving pain a voice — literally — matters.36:00 – What’s the point of music?Jono’s heartfelt answer to Steve’s recurring question.40:00 – Wrap-up and upcoming gigsTour dates, ALSO Festival, and National Maritime Museum performance previews. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.