A brief phone call, and we were on our way to help with a drum circle – gathering on a rooftop club in downtown San Diego. San Diego with its unique climate has many rooftop clubs and bars. The event organiser had been thinking about us, and when we rang to say hello and catch up, he was amazed to hear that we were in the country ….. over 100 people gathered from all over America and the sound of many rhythms could be heard over most of the city!!
Another inspiring and musically creative time in Stockholm, recording with Viola Grafström. Her second Swedish language CD and each new project seem to take her on a deeper journey into discovering her roots and traditions. We are talking about future adventures of travelling to the north of the country and hanging out with the indigenous people group, the Same.
Jag Höjer Mitt Lov
Ropar Till Dig Herre
We love our connection with Sweden (my first tour of Sweden was in my 20′s with a gospel/reggae band). What a beautiful country! I have now helped on 3 recordings in the Swedish language and it is always a joy hanging out with Viola and Torbjorn in their very unique home.
Ropar Till Dig Herre
After more snow causing chaos at Chicago airport, I flew to Los Angeles to do some more pre-production with Mark Riley from Hawaii. We are starting work on some new songs and hope to spend time in the next couple of years piecing them together. Unfortunately I spent the first couple of days with a fever in bed.
Then on to Amarillo, Texas to record a jazz album with Joann McFatter at Kevin’s brand new studio. Check out the studio www.thirdearmusic.com and check out Joann’s cool web site www.joannmcfatter.com
The concert dates in March with Iona in Germany went well, with a surprise at one venue in Karlsruhe, friends who I had lost contact with many years ago turning up.
The concert in Cornwall was also very special, situated in Carnglaze Caverns, St. Neot, once used as a rum store, and my first gig “underground”!! Amazingly, this site has been run for the last 6 years by a Christian family who now own the slate caves and underground lakes and have renovated one large cave complete with staging, sound system and lights. Attracting orchestras, rock bands and folk musicians, this has become a prime concert venue in the middle of Cornwall. I loved spotting the regulars to this venue, laden with coats and blankets, knowing that the temperature drop inside was considerable ….. this was one gig that I was very pleased to be the drummer (I kept very warm).
India is one of the most colourful countries that we have been to. We had the privilege of being invited to a wedding ceremony. Here is a clip from a very special musical moment. A special wedding band musically escorts the bride to the waiting bridegroom …… and the ceremony begins.
11/20th April Canada.
Our time in Canada was again a time of catching up with friends and helping with music for a conference in Abbotsford. We had a wonderful opportunity to go and observe a Native American pow-wow with our friends Jerry and Leslie Chapman from the Sto’:lo people. www.jerrychapman.org Here’s a (badly recorded) clip of their powerful drumming and singing.
Visited Claire and Graham Wilson who are now based in Stockholm, and worked on a Swedish recording project with Viola Grafstrom.
This will be Viola’s first recording in her heart language, Swedish. She has recorded a number of albums in English. Only a few gospel albums are recorded in Swedish. Check out a song from the project below.
Vår Herre vår Konung
An amazing collaboration bringing Hutu’s and Tutsi’s together, two people groups who had been traumatised by the effects of genocide. Songs of reconciliation were written and sung talented young Rwandans and Dave Bankhead oversaw both in Rwanda and the UK the production.
www.weareone.org.uk/articles/reconciliation-in-rwanda-1999-2005
Ikinimba
