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letter size: 
.: Here is the News
posted July 25th 2008 : visual evidence of rbc activity:
finally something on youtube from rbc - recorded in Poland at an agreeable little open-air gig next to Copernicus' amenities (see previous entry below)
Video recorded by our friend Gosia - just the sound from her camera but it captures a little bit of the excitement, hopefully.
There's a few more from the same show on youtube. So please enjoy...
posted June 23rd 2008 : upcoming gigs:
Two German gigs coming up for Robinson, Bass & Clement:
Friday 27th June : Ex'n'Pop, Berlin
Saturday 28th June : Objekt 5, Halle
check the RBC myspacesite for more info and some new music!
posted June 23rd 2008 : news from Poland:
The debut Polish tour of Robinson, Bass & Clement or RBC, as you like, was a most enjoyable experience under permanently clear blue skies with friendly and enthusiastic audiences awaiting us at every stop. The first gig, down south in Piekary Slaskie, had a surprise for us though. We arrived to find it billed as a Colin Bass concert with large posters all over the place containing my life story in Polish (and changing my nationality to the USA). But nevermind, we did our thing and the audience was a joy to play to. My thanks to the irrepressibly enthusiastic music lover Piotr Zalewski for his hospitality.
Then it was off to the Progresja in Warsaw - great venue - hi to Ania and Kasia - and then further back westerly to Poznan to play the Blue Note club, a great, large jazz-club venue where we had arranged for a live recording to be made. Unfortunately an inexperienced sound-person caused us to be plagued with monitor problems so it remains to be seen what we can use from the recordings. That's show-biz. Sunday saw us at the Kuznia club in Bydgoszcz (try pronouncing that with a mouthful of cream-crackers), where Januscz made us feel at home in the salubrious surroundings of his brand-new adjoining Hotel Kuznia, although I found the whirlpool bath much too big, as was the TV screen on the wall, and the bed much too comfortable but I turned all the lights off and slept draped over the trouser press so as not to be corrupted by too much luxury.
The rest of the gigs were organised by Maciek Meller from Quidam and it was great to see him again, and also Quidam keyboardist Zsbyszek Florek, who did our sound for us and very expertly too (photo: maciek, me and zibby). It was nice to play at the culture centre theatre in Innowroclaw again, where I've played solo and also as a guest at Quidam's last gig with their previous singer Emilia Derkowska, which apparently may shortly be released on DVD. Anyway if you're ever in Innowroclaw - a spa town with a large and beautiful park - visit the inhalatorium - an extraordinary construction where vast walls of layered tree branches are soaked with salt water providing visitors with inspirational breaths of sea air. Most unusual.
Final gig was way out east in Olstyn, where we played a nice open-air gig in the grounds of the castle there. My friend Witek Andree pointed out to me the medieval toilet closet protruding out of the wall at some height, explaining that it was attached to the rooms where Copernicus once lived. Indeed, in the grounds there were several statues of the great proto-astronomer gazing up at the skies with a glazed look in his eyes and I couldn't help imagining him doing a bit of that with his nether end protruding over the castle wall. As I announced, every time I glanced up while playing the show the irrepressible thought of Copernicus' bottom came to my mind. Now I hereby deny any other interests than the astronomical on my part and would strenuously refute any other inferences that idle chatter may attribute to my involuntary thought-processes or suggestions that my interest in the great man is any more than scientific.
Anyway, here's a photo of Copernicus' Klo.
And I'll leave you with the beauty and the beast, that is our dear friend Gosia - AKA Lady Fantasy and keeper of my Polish web-site - and his satanic majesty, Prince Robinson, in Olstyn.
Greetings also to Keiko who came all the way from Dublin. Be seeing you!
posted June 21st 2008 : it's your choice:
just checking to see if anyone is reading this.
well you never know do you?
Perhaps it wasn’t A.L. Penck who wrote:
Some ask: why are we sad yet not crying?
When everything ends in tears
But until that happens
Let’s get in a couple of beers
Well enough is enough,
I can’t waste time sitting here writing this stuff
If no-one ever reads it
I might as well say
my dog has won Cruft's
Though he’s only got three teeth
And his breath smells like death
But if I was in LA
that scarlet lady of the west
swimming pools, movie stars
Bruce Willis in his vest
I’d love to ride down sunset
with Keira Knightley at my side
and a lunch-box full of sandwiches
beneath the choking sky
and between you and me
I don't believe I ever felt better
than when I opened up the letter
from Keira when she wrote,
(enclosing a welcome five pound note):
i swear to you undying devotion
i'll cover you in pungent lotion
and help you with your morning motion
if that is what you wish
for though i'm strictly vegetarian
(and aiming to be octogenarian)
since i met this veterinarian
i've started craving fish
yours,
Keira
posted March 2nd 2008 : upcoming gigs:
The new trio of Prince Robinson, Colin Bass & Denis Clement will be making their live debut in Poland in May, billed as Robinson, Bass & Clement – or RBC for short.
dates so far are:
29.05 – Andaluzia: Piekary Slasky
30.05 – Progresja: Warsaw
31.05 - Blue Note: Poznan
01.06 - Kuznia: Bydgoscz
02.06 - MDK Kulturhaus: Innowroclaw
03.06 - Kulturhaus: Znin
04.06 - Sowa : Osztyn
and there's a new myspace site for RBC here!
other news:
Two recent interviews have been published on the net
One for the Spanish prog-blog sinfomusic - Spanish readers go here
And one for the Italian prog-blog rockline - Italian readers go here
posted 31st January 2008
Just back from a brief excursion with the Prince Robinson groovy combo, taking in Holland and a quick one-off at the great Spirit of 66 club in Verviers, Belgium. If only there were more places like this. If only there were more club-owners like Francis Geron. Great atmosphere, great sound system, great audience. Like I said, it's great! Thanks Francis.
Another Francis, that is Monsieur Francis Nicoll, took some nice photos of the event and here are a few of them
Thanks Francis.
And thanks to everyone who came and said hello.
posted December 22 2007 - it's that time again
Huh? What happened? Is that another year gone by already? And I haven't managed to post anything here since August in spite of my postulating to the contrary. Well, what can I say? So much to do, so little time.
But now is as good a time as any to take time to reflect upon what time is. Some people say they never have the time. Some say they have all the time in the world. But how much time is there in the world? And how much time have you got? And is time something you can have?
There’s a young man in New Zealand named Peter Lynds who has ruffled feathers in the academic world by proposing that there is never a precise instant underlying the motion of any object and therefore, as its position is constantly changing it doesn’t have a determined position at any time. Therefore there are no instants of time related to physical processes, which suggests there is no such thing as a flow of time because a flow requires progression through definite instants. Which from this viewpoint is an impossibility and not just one of the paradoxes devised by the Greek philosopher Zeno, which for centuries have served to prove the futility of staging a race against a tortoise. Or not, as the case may or may not be, or both as it is a paradox.
So what are we to think about this? Is time unfolding? If so, who folded it up? I think we should be told. It’s a pity I don’t have more time to think about this but I must get to the point, which of course is impossible as it has no fixed position, apparently. But nevermind and nevertheless, I am wishing to all those reading this at this moment in time - which is actually your own personal here and now after all, yours to do with as you will - warmth, happiness and love over this festive season and, whether it is flowing or not, may the coming year present itself with many opportunities for your meaningful progress through the definite instants of your life. In other words: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Thank you for your kind attention.
But wait, what other news is there?
Well, on the night of the 24th/25th December I shall be emanating all over the airwaves of Germany in the guise of DJ SabahHabas, in my annual Christmas Radio Show from the mighty transmitters of RBB Radio Multikulti and WDR Funkhaus Europa between 22.00 - 04.00 CET. Rarities, curiosities and lots of other niceties and a few live items in the studio are on the menu. Hear it internationally on live streaming at www.multikulti.de
And at the end of January I shall be joining my friend Prince Robinson for some gigs in Holland and Belgium. Joining us will be my dear friend Denis Clement on drums and Wolfgang Roggenkamp on B3 organ and keyboards. Dates will be posted here soon.
oh yes.
Cheerio for now.
posted July 06 2007 - now it can be told
Well, it had to happen. Finally some nameless person has finally got around to posting up a rare video sighting of the 3 Mustaphas 3 (c. 1988) on that repository of all that you do and don't wish to see: Youtube.
So here it is. A fine moment in their history I believe and my eyebrows have never been subjected to so much cultivation before or since.
Please enjoy....
posted February 01 - upcoming events
Well, I guess I am most pleased to announce that I recently made my acting debut in a German radio play called "Amaterasu in Shinjuku". It's by Malte Jaspersen, a German writer who has been living in Japan for 15 years. Amaterasu is the Japanese sun-goddess of the Shinto creation myths. In the play she is transported to modern day Tokyo and is bewildered by what she sees. A hurricane is on the way and in the 30th floor of the Shinjuku Paradise Building, radio DJs Jason & Yuka are broadcasting merrily away. I play Jason. It's a fascinating play with excellent soundtrack and effects, very atmospheric, with a top quality cast of seasoned German professionals, apart from me.
It's being broadcast on February 2nd, 2007, 22.04 CET on Rundfunk Berlin Brandenburg (RBB) Kulturradio
You can hear a live streaming at that time here!
It's going to be repeated on Radio Bremen Nordwestradio on March 2nd, 2007, 22.05 pm more info here!
posted December 31 - Happy New Years!
So that was it then. And now it’s another new year that doth approacheth. May it bring peace where there is discord and may new light shine in the dark corners of men’s hearts. Who said that? Was it me?
Well, Shakespeare wrote "The man that hath no music in himself, Nor is not mov'd with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils", which could well be true. And apparently Lenin once told Maxim Gorky: "I can't listen to music too often, it affects the nerves, makes you want say kind, silly things". So that explains a lot but I am more favourably inclined towards the sentiment expressed in Nick Lowe's excellent line: "what’s so funny about Peace, Love and Understanding?"
And I wish us all of that in the coming 8th year of the 21st Century.
(Is that right?)
One of the enjoyable moments of 2006 for me was being asked to be the host, along with Lara Lopez of Spanish Radio 3, for the Womex Awards Ceremony at the Womex World Music Trade Fair & Expo in Sevilla in October. My friend Michael Felsch just sent me these photos of the event
posted December 23 - all the Season's Greetings!
So here it is again. The winter solstice where we seek respite from the darkness of the northern lands in festivals of light and hope and the comfort of joy. In the depths of winter we remind ourselves of the inevitable coming of Spring and the promise of rebirth and renewal.
This year however, here in Berlin it seems as if it is already Spring. On my balcony, small plants are thrusting forth colourful blooms that should not be awake until some months hence. Still, the nights are long and it is definitely December and I have just returned from walking along one of the main shopping streets in town which presents a glittering spectacle with every tree in the broad avenue festooned with golden lights.
A multitude of shoppers are on the move, brains working overtime in frenzied indecision of what to buy the nearest and dearest or even Uncle Heinz (there’s a lot of those around these parts). On the street, undernourished-looking people sit on blankets, clutching wide-eyed dogs and hoping for a gift of small change. And that’s just the police.
On the corner outside C&A I greatly enjoyed listening to a Romanian brass band romping at breakneck speed through a selection of favourites such as Besame Mucho, Bubamara and a rather haphazard but spirited run-through of Jingle Bells. A small crowd smiled and nodded. Passers-by smiled and nodded too. An old lady stood there smiling and nodding as the sax-player came up and serenaded her. People tossed coins into the hat, some bought the CDs they had on offer. For some reason, a lady in a fur-coat came up to me and asked if it was any good, there being for her ears too many wrong notes. I told her it was in the Balkan style and anyway, what it lacked in accuracy, it more than made up for in spirit. I see, she replied, smiling and nodding.
And that’s the point I suppose. Music makes people happy and moves the spirit. And it makes them smile and nod.
So if you’ve read this far, allow me to wish you in the traditional style, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year on behalf of all the small but perfectly formed team here at Kartini Music.
And whatever else you may celebrate at this time of year, peace be with you.
PS - and if it's getting too peaceful between 22.00 and 04.00 am on the night of the 24th December, tune into my all-night live Radio Show on RBB Radio Multikulti, Radio Bremen and WDR Funkhaus Europa in Germany. You can hear it on a Live Stream at www.multikulti.de. 6 hours of rarities, curiosities and old and new favourites from around the world. And perhaps your contribution on the telephone. The lines will be open, as they say.
posted September 15th - upcoming events:
Some gigs with the abundantly talented singer/songwriter Jenny Weisgerber. I'll be playing bass for her at these concerts in Germany:
14.10.06 Blue Note, Dresden
15.10.06 Kustall, Strausberg
20.10. Wunderbar Luneberg
18.11.06 Trompete, Berlin
For more details go to www.jennyweisgerber.de
August 26th - time for the annual Radio Multikulti "VolkerBall", this year at the Kulturbrauerei complex in Berlin. 12 international acts on 3 stages and a good time was had by a sold-out crowd. The proceedings were given an added sheen with the third annual appearance of the Radio Multikulti house band Los Multikultis. A self-confessed motley but enthusiastic gathering of presenters, technicians and folks from the office under the stern but fair baton of my 
colleague, Peter Rixen on trumpet and including myself on bass and vocals. Once again we mashed up the crowd with our searing interpretations of Oye Como Va and Papa's Got a Brand New Bag and soothed them into swoonery with a honey-dripping rendition of Besame Mucho before finishing them off with a breathless hurtle through the old Russian chestnut Bubumara. Photos show Sabah taking it to the fridge.
July 30th off to the UK to play a second gig with Stella Chiweshe at the WOMAD festival at Rivermead in Reading. A great and extremely relaxed festival. We played two shows, the second taking place on the BBC Radio 3 stage, where I was delighted to meet up with dear brother Hijaz Mustapha as well as Lonesome Hank of the Tension Mounting Boys and the enigmatic Ben Mandelson, all looking remarkably like the same person, which they are so I suppose it's not so remarkable really, but too late, I've remarked on it already. Here's a photo of us enjoying the event immensely.
See more photos from WOMAD here...
Great Hatboxes of the World - collect the set! - No. 1 - "Songkok" hat from Surabaya, Java
July 8th off to Lisbon, Portugal for a performance at the Festas de Lisboa African Music Festival with my old friend Stella Chiweshe, the queen of the Zimbabwean thumb-piano, the mbira. No ordinary thumb-piano, her mbiras have about 30 metal keys and she has two pick-ups attached which she plugs into an Ampeg SVT bass amp and a Fender Twin guitar amp, to get the full range of tinkling highs and thumping bass. Now that's HEAVY mbira. And if you want to know what an Mbira looks like here's a photo of Stella with one.
It was an extremely well-organised festival in a beautiful setting by the river. It was also the day of the World Cup final which I watched in the backstage area. We took the stage about an hour after the end of the usual penalty shoot-outs by which time a sizable crowd had pulled themselves away from their tv's. We were very glad and so were they. A real barnstorming show it was. When the two marimbas start pounding and the relentless groove of the drums kicks in, you just can't keep still. Then it's all down to the old tension and release, tension and release. Can't beat it.
July 3rd-5th : album recording session in UFO Studios, Berlin with Prince Robinson.
Prince is a stunning guitarist from Los Angeles who has been living in Berlin for the last 5 years. A total natural on Blues guitar with a louche gravel-voice to match, he can also spin off any number of Monteverdi madrigals at the drop of a headscarf and is a prolific composer of great jazz-rock-fusion and more. This session however was a commissioned work: an album of blues standards. Hoochie Coochie Man, Good Morning Little School Girl, Born Under a Bad Sign and more in fresh new arrangements. The session was a lot of fun. The amazing Wolfgang Roggenkamp played Hammond organ and keyboards, Berlin's most in-demand drummer Kenny Martin kept the grooves in the pocket and I played bass. Ralf Rickerts arranged the horn section and Dennis Moody was the producer at the helm, and did an amazing job on the post-production and mastering too. Looking forward to the release and hopefully some gigs in Europe. Any dates will of course be posted here and newslettered.
Check out Prince Robinson's website for his previous album "Burning Desire" here...
And here's a photo taken at the session: l-r: Kenny Martin (drums), Prince Robinson (guitar/vocals), Wolfgang Roggenkamp (Hammond organ/keyboards), Colin Bass (bass guitar), Dennis Moody (producer).
Interesting toilet paper brands of the world - collect the set! No. 1 : Happy (Indonesia)
A Happy End Every Time!
finally something on youtube from rbc - recorded in Poland at an agreeable little open-air gig next to Copernicus' amenities (see previous entry below)
Video recorded by our friend Gosia - just the sound from her camera but it captures a little bit of the excitement, hopefully.
There's a few more from the same show on youtube. So please enjoy...
posted June 23rd 2008 : upcoming gigs:
Two German gigs coming up for Robinson, Bass & Clement:
Friday 27th June : Ex'n'Pop, Berlin
Saturday 28th June : Objekt 5, Halle
check the RBC myspacesite for more info and some new music!
posted June 23rd 2008 : news from Poland:
The debut Polish tour of Robinson, Bass & Clement or RBC, as you like, was a most enjoyable experience under permanently clear blue skies with friendly and enthusiastic audiences awaiting us at every stop. The first gig, down south in Piekary Slaskie, had a surprise for us though. We arrived to find it billed as a Colin Bass concert with large posters all over the place containing my life story in Polish (and changing my nationality to the USA). But nevermind, we did our thing and the audience was a joy to play to. My thanks to the irrepressibly enthusiastic music lover Piotr Zalewski for his hospitality.
Then it was off to the Progresja in Warsaw - great venue - hi to Ania and Kasia - and then further back westerly to Poznan to play the Blue Note club, a great, large jazz-club venue where we had arranged for a live recording to be made. Unfortunately an inexperienced sound-person caused us to be plagued with monitor problems so it remains to be seen what we can use from the recordings. That's show-biz. Sunday saw us at the Kuznia club in Bydgoszcz (try pronouncing that with a mouthful of cream-crackers), where Januscz made us feel at home in the salubrious surroundings of his brand-new adjoining Hotel Kuznia, although I found the whirlpool bath much too big, as was the TV screen on the wall, and the bed much too comfortable but I turned all the lights off and slept draped over the trouser press so as not to be corrupted by too much luxury.
The rest of the gigs were organised by Maciek Meller from Quidam and it was great to see him again, and also Quidam keyboardist Zsbyszek Florek, who did our sound for us and very expertly too (photo: maciek, me and zibby). It was nice to play at the culture centre theatre in Innowroclaw again, where I've played solo and also as a guest at Quidam's last gig with their previous singer Emilia Derkowska, which apparently may shortly be released on DVD. Anyway if you're ever in Innowroclaw - a spa town with a large and beautiful park - visit the inhalatorium - an extraordinary construction where vast walls of layered tree branches are soaked with salt water providing visitors with inspirational breaths of sea air. Most unusual.
Final gig was way out east in Olstyn, where we played a nice open-air gig in the grounds of the castle there. My friend Witek Andree pointed out to me the medieval toilet closet protruding out of the wall at some height, explaining that it was attached to the rooms where Copernicus once lived. Indeed, in the grounds there were several statues of the great proto-astronomer gazing up at the skies with a glazed look in his eyes and I couldn't help imagining him doing a bit of that with his nether end protruding over the castle wall. As I announced, every time I glanced up while playing the show the irrepressible thought of Copernicus' bottom came to my mind. Now I hereby deny any other interests than the astronomical on my part and would strenuously refute any other inferences that idle chatter may attribute to my involuntary thought-processes or suggestions that my interest in the great man is any more than scientific.
Anyway, here's a photo of Copernicus' Klo.
And I'll leave you with the beauty and the beast, that is our dear friend Gosia - AKA Lady Fantasy and keeper of my Polish web-site - and his satanic majesty, Prince Robinson, in Olstyn.
Greetings also to Keiko who came all the way from Dublin. Be seeing you!
posted June 21st 2008 : it's your choice:
just checking to see if anyone is reading this.
well you never know do you?
Perhaps it wasn’t A.L. Penck who wrote:
Some ask: why are we sad yet not crying?
When everything ends in tears
But until that happens
Let’s get in a couple of beers
Well enough is enough,
I can’t waste time sitting here writing this stuff
If no-one ever reads it
I might as well say
my dog has won Cruft's
Though he’s only got three teeth
And his breath smells like death
But if I was in LA
that scarlet lady of the west
swimming pools, movie stars
Bruce Willis in his vest
I’d love to ride down sunset
with Keira Knightley at my side
and a lunch-box full of sandwiches
beneath the choking sky
and between you and me
I don't believe I ever felt better
than when I opened up the letter
from Keira when she wrote,
(enclosing a welcome five pound note):
i swear to you undying devotion
i'll cover you in pungent lotion
and help you with your morning motion
if that is what you wish
for though i'm strictly vegetarian
(and aiming to be octogenarian)
since i met this veterinarian
i've started craving fish
yours,
Keira
posted March 2nd 2008 : upcoming gigs:
The new trio of Prince Robinson, Colin Bass & Denis Clement will be making their live debut in Poland in May, billed as Robinson, Bass & Clement – or RBC for short.
dates so far are:
29.05 – Andaluzia: Piekary Slasky
30.05 – Progresja: Warsaw
31.05 - Blue Note: Poznan
01.06 - Kuznia: Bydgoscz
02.06 - MDK Kulturhaus: Innowroclaw
03.06 - Kulturhaus: Znin
04.06 - Sowa : Osztyn
and there's a new myspace site for RBC here!
other news:
Two recent interviews have been published on the net
One for the Spanish prog-blog sinfomusic - Spanish readers go here
And one for the Italian prog-blog rockline - Italian readers go here
posted 31st January 2008
Just back from a brief excursion with the Prince Robinson groovy combo, taking in Holland and a quick one-off at the great Spirit of 66 club in Verviers, Belgium. If only there were more places like this. If only there were more club-owners like Francis Geron. Great atmosphere, great sound system, great audience. Like I said, it's great! Thanks Francis.
Another Francis, that is Monsieur Francis Nicoll, took some nice photos of the event and here are a few of them
Thanks Francis.
And thanks to everyone who came and said hello.
posted December 22 2007 - it's that time again
Huh? What happened? Is that another year gone by already? And I haven't managed to post anything here since August in spite of my postulating to the contrary. Well, what can I say? So much to do, so little time.
But now is as good a time as any to take time to reflect upon what time is. Some people say they never have the time. Some say they have all the time in the world. But how much time is there in the world? And how much time have you got? And is time something you can have?
There’s a young man in New Zealand named Peter Lynds who has ruffled feathers in the academic world by proposing that there is never a precise instant underlying the motion of any object and therefore, as its position is constantly changing it doesn’t have a determined position at any time. Therefore there are no instants of time related to physical processes, which suggests there is no such thing as a flow of time because a flow requires progression through definite instants. Which from this viewpoint is an impossibility and not just one of the paradoxes devised by the Greek philosopher Zeno, which for centuries have served to prove the futility of staging a race against a tortoise. Or not, as the case may or may not be, or both as it is a paradox.
So what are we to think about this? Is time unfolding? If so, who folded it up? I think we should be told. It’s a pity I don’t have more time to think about this but I must get to the point, which of course is impossible as it has no fixed position, apparently. But nevermind and nevertheless, I am wishing to all those reading this at this moment in time - which is actually your own personal here and now after all, yours to do with as you will - warmth, happiness and love over this festive season and, whether it is flowing or not, may the coming year present itself with many opportunities for your meaningful progress through the definite instants of your life. In other words: Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Thank you for your kind attention.
But wait, what other news is there?
Well, on the night of the 24th/25th December I shall be emanating all over the airwaves of Germany in the guise of DJ SabahHabas, in my annual Christmas Radio Show from the mighty transmitters of RBB Radio Multikulti and WDR Funkhaus Europa between 22.00 - 04.00 CET. Rarities, curiosities and lots of other niceties and a few live items in the studio are on the menu. Hear it internationally on live streaming at www.multikulti.de
And at the end of January I shall be joining my friend Prince Robinson for some gigs in Holland and Belgium. Joining us will be my dear friend Denis Clement on drums and Wolfgang Roggenkamp on B3 organ and keyboards. Dates will be posted here soon.
oh yes.
Cheerio for now.
posted July 06 2007 - now it can be told
Well, it had to happen. Finally some nameless person has finally got around to posting up a rare video sighting of the 3 Mustaphas 3 (c. 1988) on that repository of all that you do and don't wish to see: Youtube.
So here it is. A fine moment in their history I believe and my eyebrows have never been subjected to so much cultivation before or since.
Please enjoy....
posted February 01 - upcoming events
Well, I guess I am most pleased to announce that I recently made my acting debut in a German radio play called "Amaterasu in Shinjuku". It's by Malte Jaspersen, a German writer who has been living in Japan for 15 years. Amaterasu is the Japanese sun-goddess of the Shinto creation myths. In the play she is transported to modern day Tokyo and is bewildered by what she sees. A hurricane is on the way and in the 30th floor of the Shinjuku Paradise Building, radio DJs Jason & Yuka are broadcasting merrily away. I play Jason. It's a fascinating play with excellent soundtrack and effects, very atmospheric, with a top quality cast of seasoned German professionals, apart from me.
It's being broadcast on February 2nd, 2007, 22.04 CET on Rundfunk Berlin Brandenburg (RBB) Kulturradio
You can hear a live streaming at that time here!
It's going to be repeated on Radio Bremen Nordwestradio on March 2nd, 2007, 22.05 pm more info here!
posted December 31 - Happy New Years!
So that was it then. And now it’s another new year that doth approacheth. May it bring peace where there is discord and may new light shine in the dark corners of men’s hearts. Who said that? Was it me?
Well, Shakespeare wrote "The man that hath no music in himself, Nor is not mov'd with concord of sweet sounds, Is fit for treasons, stratagems, and spoils", which could well be true. And apparently Lenin once told Maxim Gorky: "I can't listen to music too often, it affects the nerves, makes you want say kind, silly things". So that explains a lot but I am more favourably inclined towards the sentiment expressed in Nick Lowe's excellent line: "what’s so funny about Peace, Love and Understanding?"
And I wish us all of that in the coming 8th year of the 21st Century.
(Is that right?)
One of the enjoyable moments of 2006 for me was being asked to be the host, along with Lara Lopez of Spanish Radio 3, for the Womex Awards Ceremony at the Womex World Music Trade Fair & Expo in Sevilla in October. My friend Michael Felsch just sent me these photos of the event
posted December 23 - all the Season's Greetings!
So here it is again. The winter solstice where we seek respite from the darkness of the northern lands in festivals of light and hope and the comfort of joy. In the depths of winter we remind ourselves of the inevitable coming of Spring and the promise of rebirth and renewal. This year however, here in Berlin it seems as if it is already Spring. On my balcony, small plants are thrusting forth colourful blooms that should not be awake until some months hence. Still, the nights are long and it is definitely December and I have just returned from walking along one of the main shopping streets in town which presents a glittering spectacle with every tree in the broad avenue festooned with golden lights.
A multitude of shoppers are on the move, brains working overtime in frenzied indecision of what to buy the nearest and dearest or even Uncle Heinz (there’s a lot of those around these parts). On the street, undernourished-looking people sit on blankets, clutching wide-eyed dogs and hoping for a gift of small change. And that’s just the police.
On the corner outside C&A I greatly enjoyed listening to a Romanian brass band romping at breakneck speed through a selection of favourites such as Besame Mucho, Bubamara and a rather haphazard but spirited run-through of Jingle Bells. A small crowd smiled and nodded. Passers-by smiled and nodded too. An old lady stood there smiling and nodding as the sax-player came up and serenaded her. People tossed coins into the hat, some bought the CDs they had on offer. For some reason, a lady in a fur-coat came up to me and asked if it was any good, there being for her ears too many wrong notes. I told her it was in the Balkan style and anyway, what it lacked in accuracy, it more than made up for in spirit. I see, she replied, smiling and nodding.
And that’s the point I suppose. Music makes people happy and moves the spirit. And it makes them smile and nod.
So if you’ve read this far, allow me to wish you in the traditional style, a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year on behalf of all the small but perfectly formed team here at Kartini Music.
And whatever else you may celebrate at this time of year, peace be with you.
PS - and if it's getting too peaceful between 22.00 and 04.00 am on the night of the 24th December, tune into my all-night live Radio Show on RBB Radio Multikulti, Radio Bremen and WDR Funkhaus Europa in Germany. You can hear it on a Live Stream at www.multikulti.de. 6 hours of rarities, curiosities and old and new favourites from around the world. And perhaps your contribution on the telephone. The lines will be open, as they say.
posted September 15th - upcoming events:
Some gigs with the abundantly talented singer/songwriter Jenny Weisgerber. I'll be playing bass for her at these concerts in Germany:
14.10.06 Blue Note, Dresden
15.10.06 Kustall, Strausberg
20.10. Wunderbar Luneberg
18.11.06 Trompete, Berlin
For more details go to www.jennyweisgerber.de
August 26th - time for the annual Radio Multikulti "VolkerBall", this year at the Kulturbrauerei complex in Berlin. 12 international acts on 3 stages and a good time was had by a sold-out crowd. The proceedings were given an added sheen with the third annual appearance of the Radio Multikulti house band Los Multikultis. A self-confessed motley but enthusiastic gathering of presenters, technicians and folks from the office under the stern but fair baton of my colleague, Peter Rixen on trumpet and including myself on bass and vocals. Once again we mashed up the crowd with our searing interpretations of Oye Como Va and Papa's Got a Brand New Bag and soothed them into swoonery with a honey-dripping rendition of Besame Mucho before finishing them off with a breathless hurtle through the old Russian chestnut Bubumara. Photos show Sabah taking it to the fridge.
July 30th off to the UK to play a second gig with Stella Chiweshe at the WOMAD festival at Rivermead in Reading. A great and extremely relaxed festival. We played two shows, the second taking place on the BBC Radio 3 stage, where I was delighted to meet up with dear brother Hijaz Mustapha as well as Lonesome Hank of the Tension Mounting Boys and the enigmatic Ben Mandelson, all looking remarkably like the same person, which they are so I suppose it's not so remarkable really, but too late, I've remarked on it already. Here's a photo of us enjoying the event immensely.See more photos from WOMAD here...
Great Hatboxes of the World - collect the set! - No. 1 - "Songkok" hat from Surabaya, Java
July 8th off to Lisbon, Portugal for a performance at the Festas de Lisboa African Music Festival with my old friend Stella Chiweshe, the queen of the Zimbabwean thumb-piano, the mbira. No ordinary thumb-piano, her mbiras have about 30 metal keys and she has two pick-ups attached which she plugs into an Ampeg SVT bass amp and a Fender Twin guitar amp, to get the full range of tinkling highs and thumping bass. Now that's HEAVY mbira. And if you want to know what an Mbira looks like here's a photo of Stella with one.
It was an extremely well-organised festival in a beautiful setting by the river. It was also the day of the World Cup final which I watched in the backstage area. We took the stage about an hour after the end of the usual penalty shoot-outs by which time a sizable crowd had pulled themselves away from their tv's. We were very glad and so were they. A real barnstorming show it was. When the two marimbas start pounding and the relentless groove of the drums kicks in, you just can't keep still. Then it's all down to the old tension and release, tension and release. Can't beat it.July 3rd-5th : album recording session in UFO Studios, Berlin with Prince Robinson.
Prince is a stunning guitarist from Los Angeles who has been living in Berlin for the last 5 years. A total natural on Blues guitar with a louche gravel-voice to match, he can also spin off any number of Monteverdi madrigals at the drop of a headscarf and is a prolific composer of great jazz-rock-fusion and more. This session however was a commissioned work: an album of blues standards. Hoochie Coochie Man, Good Morning Little School Girl, Born Under a Bad Sign and more in fresh new arrangements. The session was a lot of fun. The amazing Wolfgang Roggenkamp played Hammond organ and keyboards, Berlin's most in-demand drummer Kenny Martin kept the grooves in the pocket and I played bass. Ralf Rickerts arranged the horn section and Dennis Moody was the producer at the helm, and did an amazing job on the post-production and mastering too. Looking forward to the release and hopefully some gigs in Europe. Any dates will of course be posted here and newslettered.
Check out Prince Robinson's website for his previous album "Burning Desire" here...
And here's a photo taken at the session: l-r: Kenny Martin (drums), Prince Robinson (guitar/vocals), Wolfgang Roggenkamp (Hammond organ/keyboards), Colin Bass (bass guitar), Dennis Moody (producer).
Interesting toilet paper brands of the world - collect the set! No. 1 : Happy (Indonesia)
A Happy End Every Time!
