My Ongoing Projects 2008

A chance to inform all you "on-site lookers" of projects taking place in the wondrous and varied world of yours truly!

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There is talk (and playing to back it up) of a Breakfast Band reunion of some kind this year 2008. At the end of the Carnival Messiah last year, Geraldine Connor, who directed the show, suggested that I get the boys back together again to take some part in the event. It turned out that we ended up playing for the after-show party at the West Indian Centre in Leeds, starting at 1am and going on into the small hours.....It was pretty unrehearsed but felt like some of that old magic was still there. The trouble is, getting all 7 of us in the same place at the same time but where there's a will........! Talk of recording has been bandied about with new tunes and grooves; exciting musical prospects!

Also, last November, the BBC called up and said they'd seen a documentary called "By way of a change", released by the Beeb in 1974! Yes, folks, that was my first band, Global Village Trucking Company (they don't make names like that any more!) and we were the subject of said doc, highlighting not only our music but also our lifestyle. In those days, going against the grain was still pretty radical and our free-wheeling commune way of life was as much in the spotlight as our psychedelic rock. We weren't called "Britain's answer to the Grateful Dead" for nothing! It seems the Beeb wanted a before and after follow-up doc, where are they all now?! Well, most of us are still alive and able (drummer lives in Rio) and we put on a gig in Leytonstone (don't ask, 2 of the original band members live there) that was filmed in full. The actual documentary is due to come out sometime in early March with music and interviews; as soon as I have the date, I will let you all know.

Alot of talk about REUNIONS!!

CARNIVAL MESSIAH UPDATE!!

After that wonderful performance on the grounds of Harewood house, Nr Leeds last September (see eulogy in giglists), it turns out that The Roundhouse are seriously interested in staging Carnival Messiah for next Christmas, 2008!! What a treat that would be and a perfect site to perform in. Watch this space....

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TALKING SPIRIT

A true world music collection of amazing musicians dedicated to bringing original tunes and sounds to worthy ears! Played Maja festival in Majorca last year and stole the show; suitably encouraged, we are putting the finishing brush strokes to a broad canvas of tracks which should see the light of day in time for summer's festivals!

Here are some of the musicians, most of whom grew up with me:

Richard Bailey: Drums, percussion (Incognito, Jeff Beck, Breakfast Band)

Winston Delandro: Guitar, percussion (Billy Ocean, B.Band, Johnny Nash)

Tim Herniman: Sax, Violin (Root Jackson, Suggs, Scott Walker)

Tony Maronie: Hand Drums, Percussion (Brotherhood of Breath, B.Band, Stevie Winwood)

John McKenzie; Bass, percussion (Eurythmics, Bob Dylan, Tom Scott, Global Village)

And, of course James Lascelles playing Keys, Dulcimer and an array of ethnic instruments including Darabuka, Ghatam, Kalimba.....

We also have some international guest artists lined up to contribute their unique musical gifts!

WATCH THIS SPACE!!

Didier Malherbe (French ex-Gong woodwind magician) has added some subliminal duduk to our album and Cuttie has sung his heart out on one track.

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PAHF

Another trip to Lagos for last months (May '06) "Catwalk the World" (Fashion for Food) Charity Fundraiser

My wife, Joy, and myself attended an amazing fashion show to raise money and awareness for "Stop Child Hunger". It took place in the heart of Lagos, Nigeria to a full house and the idea is to take Catwalk The World to many of the major capitals over the coming year, including Rome, New York, Copenhagen, London (in September), Liberia, Ghana, Sydney, Sao Paulo, New Delhi and Cape Town. You can't give too much time and effort for this cause!

There were beautiful clothes and designs by one of Africa's top designers, Deola Sagoe, not too mention stunning models and music by one of Nigeria's leading performers, Yinka Davies.

We gave a press conference afterwards and made the gathered journalists aware of the PAHF programme and how it can benefit Nigerians and Africans greatly. There should be articles emerging from the Nigerian press any day now. The connection between starving children and the PAHF initiative is very clear and one literally feeds the other!

James also getting involved with PAHF (Pan African Health Foundation);

Plans definitely underway to perform concerts to benefit PAHF (Pan African Health Foundation) in Nigeria this year, 2006.

The idea is for James to play original tunes with local Nigerian musicians as well as solo piano and dulcimer and demonstrate various ethnic instruments. We are aiming to perform in Lagos, Abuja (the new capital) and Port Harcourt, scene of the recent ground-breaking ceremony to build factory for non-reusable syringes (see Links)

Traveling to Nigeria to attend the ground-breaking ceremony of a new factory in Port Harcourt, SE Nigeria, for producing non-reusable syringes and helping with education programmes in Africa. James is hoping to perform charity concerts next year to raise PAHF profile in Nigeria and beyond (Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt)

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What a fantastic trip to Africa, Nigeria!

Representing UK branch of PAHF, I went with my wife, Joy Elias-Rilwan, end of Nov. and we were honarary guests of the President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo and the Governor of Rivers State, Peter Odili, in the south-east Niger Delta.

We witnessed the laying of the first stone, or in this case cement block,by the President to start the building of the first factory to specifically make the non-reusable or Auto-Disable syringe. This will bring in alot of jobs and focus to the area and train Nigerians how to operate the plant and create a sustainable project. The number one killer in Africa is Aids, largely caused by using dirty needles. and the AD syringe has a mechanical locking device, preventing it from being reused. It was invented and patented by Marc Koska, Director of Star Syringe, an Englishman living in Sussex!

I spent 2 days and nights in Lagos and spent the evenings checking out musicians and groups to find a Nigerian rythm section with singers and talking drummer; some great talent and the idea is to to perform 3 benefit concerts with Nigerian band in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Abuja, the new capital, to raise awareness and profile of PAHF! All in the pipeline, but with the blessing of the President and Governor, it should come to pass, we're hoping this or next year!

See Links

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My wife, Joy and I took a fabulous trip/break to Egypt this February, the Land of the Pharaohs. We cruised down the Nile and took in most of the temples, tombs and sights all expertly explained by our highly knowledgable and soulful Egyptologist, Hassan Awad. I am writing a diary/travelogue to be passed amongst family and friends and, on completion, will feature extracts (or it's entirety) and photos on this site.

Watch out!!

Also, spent time holidaying in Mauritius this winter and had some fabulous experiences and saw some wonderful sights. Another travelogue on the way......

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ARTEAST

European/Mediterranean/Turkish/Celtic band offering original, instrumental music. Some beautiful scales and crazy rhythyms wrapped up in a 4-piece suit! CD out entitled simply "Arteast" and gigs a-coming! Musicians involved:

Naim Karudag: Guitars (Turkish Cypriot)

Sedat Sarici: Bass, Guitar (Turkish)

Joachim Greve: Drums (German)

James Lascelles : Keys, Dulcimer, perc (Euro!)

See www.arteastmusic.com or go to Links

CD available- email me for details

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Completed an instrumental CD entitled "ANIMALS", inspired by film music track submitted and accepted for the Universal release of The Jackal, a movie starring Bruce Willis, Sidney Poitier and Richard Gere. The premise was to come up with a piece of music that shows Bruce Willis watching a TV doc about the habits of the jackal, inspiring him to do his dirty work as a professional hitman, his target this time the First Lady! We did indeed compose a piece that perfectly captured the edgy feel of a destructive human being admiring the dubious qualities of a pack of hyenas at work, staccato industrial rhythyms with African Balafons and Djembe drums on top! After the studio accepted our track (there was a short-list of about 5/6) I worked with a young whizz-kid engineer called Nick Atkins or "Blue" to his mates, and we soundscaped more tracks to an animal of choice, which included Snake, Red Kite, Tiger, Shark, Dolphin, Lizard, Australian Elephant, Frog, Zebra, Child, Adult (Mobile Womb) and Welsh Rarebit!! A marriage of techno beats and drum samples with an array of exotic acoustic, ethnic instruments tailor made for filmic and scenic purposes as well as perfect Chill-out ambience (or so my kids inform me!!). Some of the pieces have been used for documentaries at The London International Film School, where I was working with the musical director.

CD available- email me for details

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Working on bunch of themed tunes for possible Library/Filmic purposes with Stuart Elliott, one time drummer for original Cockney Rebel and Alan Parsons Project. We are composing Middle and Far Eastern influenced spiritual musical moods, incorporating dulcimer and drones and snake charmers' pipe among other percussion instruments!

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TEACHING AND YOUTH EXPERIENCE

Teaching: Private piano and rhythm tuition including Jazz grades, formal harmony and theory, rhythm and improvisation. Encourage syncopation and co-ordination through drumming and percussion, as well as original compositions.
Many pupils have achieved music (Jazz) scholarships and have gone on to perform and record with top acts. Always taking new, eager students. Rhythm + melody = life
Workshops: Music, rhythm and movement as part of Footsbarn Theatre Travelling Company in France, India, Colombia, Ireland, Costa Rica and UK for all ages.

Music and instruments demonstration for local schools in the Japanese islands of Ogaswara.
Performing Arts initiatives across the UK and Wales for Regenerate, a Community Action Trust set up for disempowered youth.
Rythym appreciation for Salusbury World Refugee school in London.
Lectures: Ethnic music demonstrations for UNM (University of New Mexico, US) and lectures in Santa Fe on world music travels and experiences.
Performing Arts demos and talks on the importance of creativity to youth in Leeds and Wales.
Radio: Resident DJ for KUNM Albuquerque, New Mexico’s University Public Radio station; hosted own devised show entitled “Global Tribal Music”.
Live/on air demonstrations of ethnic instruments.
Original compostions for various UK/African radio plays.

Also wrote and directed Christmas plays with music for young children in Suffolk, UK.

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© 2005 James Lascelles | Design by David Ahmed