contact: Caphays House|Caundle Marsh|Nr Sherborne|Dorset DT9 5LX
tel: + 44 1963 23458 email: mail@ifayoruba.co.uk
  

projects and
workshop leaders - biographies
The Iyami Music Project
  

 

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!

Mickey Wills

The Iyami Music Project explored traditional music from the African Diaspora relating to the journeys of Yoruba people and their Icons of the Air, Sea and River. By focusing on the songs and rhythms of African diasporic music and exploring links with contemporary music today the young musicians learnt about the historical development of what they are listening to now and the “melting pot” that is music.
The songs featured here are a reflection of that history
and it’s evolution, spanning traditional European and Yoruba songs through to Gospel Songs. The young peoples music explores our connection with the Air, Sea and River and the impact they have on our daily lives.
Thanks go to all the Young People involved in the project and the following organisations: Artslink -Sherborne, West Dorset District Council, Radipole Primary School, Bridport Arts Centre, Sturminster Exchange, St Andrews Primary School, Yetminster, All Saints School, Bishops Caundle, William Barnes Primary School, Sturminster Newton, Royal Manor Arts College, Portland, The Gryphon School, Sherborne.

Track:

1. Yemoja – Trad Yoruba arr KLLB
2. Oya Air – written by Freddie Proctor, Ella Foster,
Sophie Ward arr KLLB
3. Every Time I Breathe – written by Rachel Patterson
4. Nobody Knows – written by Aramide Babalola
and Indea Hourihan arr Marco Piccioni and KLLB
5. The River is Flowing – Trad Pagan arr KLLB
6. Hurricane – written by Royal Manor Arts College
Music Group, Portland
7. The Mill is Silent – written by William Barnes Choir arr KLLB
8. River Trance – written by Judd Willis, Thomas Jackson,
Aaron Ginger, Ben Hull arr KLLB
9. Fly Away – Trad Gospel arr KLLB.

Singing on the following tracks:
William Barnes Primary School Choir – 2,3,5,9
Aramide Babalola, Judd Willis and Indea Hourihan – 1,7
Rachel Patterson – 4

Featured Musicians:
Kate Luxmoore – Clarinet, Alto Clarinet and Bass Clarinet
Lekan Babalola – Percussion
Mickey Wills – Guitar

Recorded at: Caphays Barn Studio
Mixed and Mastered by Mickey Wills
Produced by Kate Luxmoore and Mickey Wills
Associate Producer: Lekan Babalola
Executive Producer: Kate Luxmoore
Artwork by Taiwo Adediran

 

 

 
  
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