projects and
workshop leaders - biographies

We are currently working with young people at the Royal Manor School on Portland, creating new music and developing a junk percussion band.

Kate Luxmoore

images by Joss Barratt

Lekan Babalola
'Nigerian, Lekan Babalola, is one of the most extraordinary percussionists in world music and jazz today,’
Nick Gold, World Circuit.

Lekan started his career playing in the Yoruba Christian Church owned by his father. As custodians of Yoruba tradition his family taught him first hand Yoruba art and culture and this has influenced all his work .He also received a cultural and political apprenticeship from the late Fela Kuti.

“a wizardry percussionist” Washington Post

In 1980 he came to Britain and as his skills as a master percussionist grew was invited to join Gasper Lawal in 1982.

He continued his career in New York as part of Art Blakey’s Jazz Messengers and returned to the UK where he performed with the likes of Ernest Ranglin, Branford Marsalis, African Jazz All Stars, Roy Ayers, Tony Allen, Axelle Red, Pinse Saul, Queen Salawa Abeni, Jean Toussaint.

Lekan now devotes himself to his solo, contemporary and traditional projects with regular appearances at The South Bank and Barbican as well as Jazz Diva Cassandra Wilson’s new album “ Lovely” on Blue Note Records, in which Lekan was a key collaborator and which will be touring Internationally from June 2008.

Kate Luxmoore
A classically trained clarinetist, Kate’s performance experience encompasses working with folk, jazz, world, classical and contemporary music as well as cross arts work, involving dance, visual art, theatre and story telling.
She has performed at Festivals and venues worldwide with artists and bands including a duo with pianist Ian Buckle, The Anna Ryder Band, Fairport Convention, Storyteller Vayu Naidu, The Open Theatre Company, Talking Birds and Salamander Tandem.

She has also undertaken several research trips to Cuba, America and Nigeria.

She has recorded for radio and television and also writes music for her own ensemble The Kate Luxmoore Group which draws together musicians from different traditions, through a mix of written, devised and improvised music.

"Kate’s eclectic ensemble sounded beautiful "
Birmingham Post

Kate is currently completing her debut album, recorded in Lagos, Nigeria and her home turf in Dorset!

Colin Peters
Started playing bass guitar in the church choir and established himself as a professional in 1997. His career has involved working with a variety of artist’s producers and organisations, including Stereo Nation, Lou Dalgleish, Ben Okafor, Pato Banton, Ruby Turner, Alvin Davis, Jackie Graham, Northern Soul stars: featuring Edwin Starr, Mary Wells, JJ Barnes, Beverly Crawford.

He has also worked with Funk federation, Pattie Boullett, BLUE, DANIEL BEDDINGFIELD, BEVERLEY KNIGHT, CHRIS EATON – songwriter for Sir Cliff Richard, Abelwell Foundation - Original Reggae music, Netsayi Chigwedre Album - Zimbabwe folk jazz and Natasha Beddingfield - Tour/children in need BBC1.

Most recently Colin has been touring with The X Factor and Eurovision.

Examples of previous workshops and projects.

With Percussionist and Master Drummer Lekan Babalola. A weekend for professional and semi professional musicians keen to learn more about grooves and the rhythmic roots of Yoruba influenced music such as Jazz, Latin, Funk and Pop. Lekan is currently percussionist with Jazz Diva Cassandra Wilson as well as performing his own music with the Lekan Babalola and KLLB Bands. Sunday 31st August 10.30am Arrival, Introduction, Coffee. 11am Class - Learning clave, fundamentals of rhythm, group playing and parts. 1pm Lunch 2pm Films and discussion 3.30pm break 4pm Class learning Yoruba songs with rhythm patterns and developing arrangements. 6.30pm classes end but time for informal discussion and for further playing amongst the group - without Lekan. Monday 1st September 10.30am - 1.30pm Working in small ensembles to interpret tunes from day before and others. Exploring how the change in clave or where the tune is sitting will affect the music. Exploration of Yoruba, rhythmic related styles - Latin, Reggae, Calypso, Rumba, Jazz etc 1.30 - 2.30pm Lunch 2.30 - 3.15pm Films and discussion 3.30 - 4.30pm Final playing session together. Day ends. Cost £120 includes 2 course meal on Saturday evening and lunch on both days. Cost for Sunday and Monday only £100 to include lunch on both days. Accommodation available locally or on site from £25 per person. Or camping available on site for £5 per tent! (Toilet facilities only) Venue: Caphays Barn Caundle Marsh Nr Sherborne Dt9 5LX To book email:kllb@btinternet.com or call 0196323458

Music for the Meji 2003
A secondary school project based around the Exhibition 16 Pieces. Musicians worked within a school for 1 week to create a performance of music and poetry to be performed alongside the paintings in a City Centre Art Gallery.

Hear, There and Everywhere 2003
In association with diaspora (a Birmingham based arts organisation) a project was developed involving 5 primary schools throughout Birmingham learning about traditional music from around the world (Greece, India, Africa, Britain and Birmingham!). The children worked for 6 weeks to develop their own music in response to this and performed to one another at the end of the project. This project involved 8 musicians from different fields and included development days where each artist led a workshop explaining their particular music and musical roots.

Openfield 2003
A dance and music project (in association with diaspora and salamanda tandem) involving 3 West Midland Art Galleries and special schools. Dancers and musicians created a piece through a series of improvisatory structures drawing together a range of musicians and dancers from India, South and West Africa, Brazil, Carribean, Britain and Sweden. They explored the theme of ancestral landscapes to create a performances and workshops for special school children in galleries.