"Tony...they came for you"

"They came for you Tony...they came for you" a brother from Hypnotic Brass Ensemble kept saying, as he took his trumpet out his mouth for a brief few seconds.

I'm not sure if they came for Tony or the Brothers, even though Tony was looking pretty stoosh.

Whoever they came to see they were there and i mean in numbers...for one night only beautiful women had decided to invade Cargo. I'm not exaggerating, it was hot in there.

There was a real buzz throughout the whole gig, with every new member joining the band, becoming more and more full and exciting. Each time i thought to myself "this can't get any better", they just stepped it up a gear. Baba Mal elegantly strolls on stage wearing a Snake Skin Jacket. At this point Tony Allan and Hypnotic Brass are still holing a tight Afro Beat groove behind. As he starts singing with a voice that i remember hearing when my mum used to play me his records when i was a little boy. His tone just hits again and my hairs can't but stand on end and that feeling of ecstasy just shoots down my back. He has such a intricate way of dropping in and out of the music while still giving each member enough space to express themselves freely, while keeping the music moving forward.

I was explaining to my sister that from my personal experiences from playing Saxophone in an Afro Cuban band for 3 years. One of the reasons why it was such an exciting and full of depth gig, apart from them all being very accomplished musicians, is the fact that each individual has a willingness to give 110% when performing. You can tell by the way they started their first number. The Hypnotic Ensemble had it down from the word go, i mean those guys were rocking it even before they played a note!!!Serious shit. And when they did start...

If you manage to get hold of any videos or recordings of that night please let me know and i strongly suggest sharing them as people need to hear those guys.

Sorry for the Iphone pics but better then nothin.
















Pictures courtesy of Coco Cassibba.

Catch some great shows from around the world here

Peace.

Me Got me Own Bike!

Check out what i spotted the other day. They are slightly more common these days but used to be real hard to get hold of. Designed by one of Italy's finest Bike company's which started its day in 1939 by Giuseppe Olmo.

This summer I'm gonna rock up on one of these beauties.

If anyone knows of someone selling an Olmo, it doesn't have to have track ends-though that would be a bonus, let me know please, preferably a vintage frame.

My Venom is still "hot right now" but i just can't not have my own name on my own bike...you know what i mean!

For now i leave you with a few pics of me...











Just found some more old pics from last summer.







Peace

Benji B In The Mix

Check out Benji B's latest Thursday night show with a lovely tribute to John Martyn.

Listen here

Peace

Long Live the one legged legend...

Sorry, I know it may be old news by now, but I'd like to say my final farewell to the late John Martyn.
I'm not going to give a you low down on his life and music as I'm assuming you all know who he is and what he is famous for. But for those of you who didn't catch the news, listen to the radio or manage to jump on a computer recently...he past away yesterday January 29th aged only 60.







RIP...your music will never die,

Thank you.

Cargo Yo...

Hopefully try and make it down to this one...sorry it just can't be missed.



Tony Allen here
Hypnotic Brass Ensemble here

Peace

Plastic Fantastic!

Gullyver Returns..."The New Year Knock Out" @ Plastic People on Saturday 31st Jan 2009.

It's gonna be heavy peeps...trust!


Plastic People
147-149 CurtainRoad,
London,
EC2

What's Goin On?

Edson's dinner party's are the place to spend your Wednesday night this winter.

Another great evening, with lots of thought provoking discussions, inspiring people to share some thoughts and of course good wine and good food, as always. The magazine that accompanies this website popped up as we were leaving, and i just have to share this wonderful piece of Art.

Check it here

What's Goin On? by Marvin Gaye.

Photography by Lee Crum.

Beautiful music with Stunning photography...what more do you want?

Word of the week...

Coined by Horace Walpole on 28th January 1754.

SERENDIPITY is the effect by which one accidentally discovers something fortunate, especially while looking for something else entirely.

This word has come into practice allot recently.

Peace

Art, For Art Sake

Last Sunday while taking a walk to the Stolen Space Gallery, I bumped into an Artist who goes by the name 'Word To Mother'. We agree to meet outside his studio..."in a bit".

Having met him only once or twice while working at Goodhood. We meet outside his studio with another Artist from South London, we get a tea from round the corner but unfortunately the artist form South London has to wait outside, apparently banned from entering due to reasons that i can not confirm. So armed with specially brewed English tea, a handful of sugar, a glass of milk and some stirring sticks ("which could come in handy for painting on...or with") we head back to the studio.

We enter this old 1950's maybe 60's looking building, up a few flights of stairs and into this fluorescent lighten studio. Explaining as we walk in that he had to cover up gaps where cold air blows through, And it slowly became apparent how cold this place could get, especially if you are working in there all day. That's when I see various heaters scattered around doing there work.

As we step inside, the lights seem to give it a melancholy atmosphere almost hospital like.

We chill...

He then talked me through some new and old work, and while doing this his hands were never still, constantly busy gluing, hammering and slowly constructing wooden ...? for his next project. I become more and more intrigued by his style and way of thinking. His approach to art and sustainable living comes across in his work. The textures of everyday life seem to seep through the aged wood and out the other side. The understated tones of colour blend in to each other almost like they where living, the characters could almost look as though they were breathing.

At this point I felt I needed to ask whether i could take a few pictures, merely to show people what a dedicated and hard working artist can create with his time, and thanks to his kindness and positive attitude, agrees.

So i click away.

To me it was pure beauty, seeing all the pieces layed out, some half finished others fully completed a few even looked like they almost wanted to speak to me or shout or...i dunno say something.

I would like to thank Word To Mother for inviting me into his space, sharing his ideas, visions and time.

I suggest you keep an eye out, as only inspirational, moving, and dangerous art will be coming out of Word To Mother's studio.

Here are some pics as authorized:



















Peace

Catch an interview here.
Other links:
www.adaptagallery.com
www.stolenspace.com/section

What A Wonderful World...

Took a stroll down to Kai & Sunny's, What A wonderful World exhibition at the Stolen Space Gallery yesterday.
Been wanting to go since I missed the private viewing last Thursday.
The show is heavily inspired by natural landscapes, trees, rivers, flowing water, all printed/painted on canvas and paper.

As you walk in there are a number of baby Tepees scatted around which has a real calming effect. I could almost picture it...back in Totnes (Devon) at a Tepee gathering, hear the hippies banging drums...?Dancing round the fire and chanting...chanting...chanting...Sorry I digress slightly but...It's true.

A free CD mixed by Pablo from Uncle accompanies the work, Download here.

Well worth a look.







Peace.

Ciao Ciccio Cassibba...

Ciao big Papa fai un buon viaggio...A Mentor, Friend, Teacher, Artist, Fisherman, Vintage clothing Stylista, Hunter, Farmer, Antique dealer, shirt collector/hoarder of all, rubbish specialist and father of three. Made his way back to Sicily yesterday to take care of business. Thanks for teaching and inspiring me. See you in summer. L'Isola del sole!

























Peace/Pace/paz/Vrede/平和/мир

Happy Burns Day!

The Haggis is on and Whisky at the ready...Following my roots to Scotland, today 25th Jan we celebrate the birthday of a national Poet/Lyricist/Farmer, Robbie Burns. A tradition that has been running for over two hundred years.


O' My Love Is Like A Red Red Rose:

O, my luve is like a red, red rose,
That's newly sprung in June.
O, my luve is like a melodie,
That's sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonie lass,
So deep in luve am I,
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
Till a' the seas gang dry.

Till a' the seas gang dry, my dear,
And the rocks melt wi the sun!
And I will luve thee still, my dear,
While the sands o life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only luve!
And fare thee weel, a while!
And I will come again, my luve,
Tho it were ten thousand mile!

RIP.

"Big Babol" the best chewing gum in the world...

On my yearly travel's back home to Sicily i came across these...such beautiful colour combos, had to buy one of each flavour.

No biting.

Peace

Benji B In The Mix

Been catching up on Benji B's show from last night's BBC 1Xtra. Really feeling the whole mix but that Killarmanjaro Dark Jazz Ensemble track entitled - Serpant...is heavy. Electronic floaty underground Jazz from The Netherlands. Lovin it...Catch his show here.

Peace

Slumdog Millionaire

If you haven't already seen it, its well worth checkin out.
Slumdog Millionaire from the outset kept me completely engrossed. It may look a bit tacky or cheesy but for me it was a pleasant surprise.

Directed by Danny Boyle (who got best director at this years BAFTA's) and written by Simon Beaufoy.
It features no well known stars and contains lots of hidden details about our society and culture, and of course globalisation, which i think about allot.
Originally released in America, August 2007. It has since been busy receiving a number of awards including, 10 Oscar nominations and could catch the odds at next month's Academy Awards. It also got a 95% rating at Rotten Tomatoes...Yes thats right Rotten Tomatoes.

Definitely one not be missed.