JAZZ AT CHARLTON HOUSE TWO NIGHTS AGO...

A fascinating mix of martial arts, music and poetry...that was Friday night, 21st September, at Charlton House, Greenwich...

The bill was headlined by jazz singer Sarah Moule in her show : Femmes Fatales; the honey voice transported us through history by standards from different times. By her side was amazing pianist, composer and husband Simon Wallace, a man with a long successful history in show business...
Watch a minute and  half of their show here...

The gig began with a newly created jazz duet combo- with Andre Mathurin on bass and Robert Stekelenburg on piano...see a brief moment taken from their 15 minutes wonderful symbiosis here...

WHEN WRITERS MEET...

Song writers, poets, novelists, bloggers, social analysts, journalists – they were all here around the Kitchen Table. Thanks to Global Fusion Music and Arts...

First Angela Aimes and Sandhya Kaffo, proudly, showed their new poetry collections. Then Wendy Higgs exhibited her jewels from Egypt, the work of a man called ...what was the man’s name? Adel. Not the famous English musician, but an Arab designer. Fascinating colours: emerald, ruby, purple, cream...you name it. 

Appreciation was shown in different ways- some touched, some said their favourite ones, others bought one, two, three pieces for themselves, wives, friends, etc.

Then it was time to read new works.

Angela Aimes shows her new book : Peace for Sale...

TRIBUTE TO ALAN HAYMAN – SOUTH AFRICAN MUSICIAN RECENTLY DIED AND BURIED IN BRAZIL

A few days ago when I broke the death news to Jazz musician, Claude Deppa, after the initial shock, the charismatic Claude remarked : "He was too fast for London. No wonder he moved to Brazil.  Alan was ahead of his time."

There are two types of human beings.

 Those whose goals are achieved in their country of origin; and ones whose dreams are fulfilled in foreign lands.  Like Mohammed Farah who moved from Somalia and is now a celebrated athlete in the UK; or the Jewish thinker and author, Karl Marx who fled  Germany in the 19^th century and died in London. Remmy Ongala left Congo in 1978 and brought prestige to Tanzanian music, died and was buried in Dar es Salaam two years ago.

Living in a huge, cosmopolitan city like London makes you meet such individuals.    300 languages are spoken here. In such a maze of cultures and nationalities, I met Alan Hayman, a South African community enthusiast and musician in 1991.

Alan Hayman (first right, seated on his beloved Congas) in his hey days with Sambatucada band. One can see how  Alan enjoyed working and collaborating with others...Pic courtsey of Vera Lucia Pereira da Silva.

 Back then I was living in Rio de Janeiro and had reviewed an international film festival for a London magazine. While visiting the country my agent (who was based in London) said she had got a call from this African guy.