Can you tell us about your new album?
This is a collection of songs that I’ve been writing and trying out with the band for about two years now. Although a couple of ideas have been existing in a primary form even before that- since I was a child, practising the piano at my grandma’s house.. Every tune has a little story behind it but, on the whole, the album is a scrapbook of memories, adventures, experiences and everything else that consists what we call life.
What other projects are you currently involved with?
I’ve been mainly focusing on my own project over the last few years, and we have had so far a good run of gigs in both London and Birmingham in front of the nicest audiences (Birmingham Symphony Hall, Jazz at the Crypt, Pizza Express Soho, Karamel, Jazz Refreshed’s 91 living room – to name a few). I’ve also been sitting on the piano chair of NU Civilisation orchestra for a few of their projects and I’m currently part of the electro-pop-jazz band Spirit Burger- playing some synths and keys for them.
What are you currently listening to and what was the last CD or download you bought?
I’m into “The carnival of the Animals” of Camille Saint-Saëns, Oscar Brown Jr.’s Sin and Soul , Triangles and Circles (Dafnis Prieto), The Astonishing Eyes of Rita (Anouar Brahem) at the moment. Last CD I bought was Zoe Rahman’s latest one (so great) after a lovely lesson we have had.
What is your all-time favourite album and why?
Tough to name one but I’ll go with Charles Mingus’s “Blues and Roots”, Reasons: great tunes, players and arrangements. Although I really want to squeeze in Led Zeppelin’s Debut (1969) in here too- as it’s another all-time favourite. For the same reasons.
Who has caught your attention recently that we should be listening out for?
I like this London based band that I discovered recently: Unknown to Known
