PHOTOGRAPHY
When I was in Miami in September I attended a workshop given by one of my favourite Cuban bands, Sintesis. Sintesis fuse rock and other contemporary genres with traditional Afro Cuban music. They use bata drums as part of their percussive sound. Bata drums, when used in Afro Cuban religious ceremonies are only played by … Read more
I’ve been taking pictures of the choir I sing with, The London Lucumi Choir for several years now. Many of these albums are on Facebook, the most comprehensive of which is the album choir people Here’s a new picture of Charlene at yesterday’s rehearsal. Her dress caught my eye, as did the stained glass of the … Read more
On Saturday The London Lucumi Choir sang at the V&A Museum of Childhood as part of the New Voices Festival for Refugee week. The first image is of one the dancers we work with,Yolanda Perez, getting ready to perform as “Elegua”, the afro cuban orisha or deity. We start all our concerts singing one of … Read more
Today’s choir rehearsal was at The Place dance studios in Euston in preparation for our gig at Brixton East this coming Thursday as part of the Survival Guides Festival. Here are a couple of photos of Daniela Rosselson de Armas, director of the choir and my long-time friend: Here are some shots of “Waafrique” aka … Read more
Yesterday at choir practice with The London Lucumi Choir I came across this doll resting on the piano keys. As with mannequins I’m intrigued by the slightly surreal, human quality some dolls possess. Whilst going through my photos I remembered this magical doll-like baby I’d encountered at a WOMAD music festival:
Here’s a picture I took of Jen during a break at an afro-cuban dance class on Saturday; I love the majestic shape of her hair in profile. And here’s a picture of Dave, one of the percussionists at choir rehearsal today.
I sing with the amazing London Lucumi Choir, led by Daniela Rosselson de Armas. We sing songs from various Afro-Cuban genres, accompanied by percussion. Today’s percussionists were Collette Boardman, Bill Bland and Dave Pattman.
I was really drawn to this gypsy doll I came across at choir practice today. I sing with the fab London Lucumi Choir.