Images from the March for a People’s Vote – being heard in one way or another

I went to the Brexit March yesterday which was a rally for a People’s Vote calling for another EU referendum. I went on my own, but with the intention of hooking up with some musician friends who were meeting with other samba school percussionists near the Apollo statue in Hyde Park. Compared to most of … Read more

Percussion & The Afro Cuban Music Night

Back in May I wrote a blog post highlighting images of dance and movement at the monthly Afro Cuban Music Night in London. I wanted to post some new images featuring musicians and percussion instruments. This is Richard Sweet on okonkolo, the smallest of the three batà drums used to play traditional Afro Cuban music: This … Read more

More on the Afro Cuban Music Night

The first Tuesday of every month is firmly placed in my diary. This is because it means it’s time for London’s Afro Cuban Music Night. The organisers describe the event as a night of drum, song and dance from bata and Orisha music to rumba and as an informal gathering where musicians who know the traditions … Read more

Afro Cuban Music Night, April 2016

Back in January I wrote a piece on London’s monthly Afro Cuban Music Night and I thought I would provide an update with some images focussing on a few of the veteran percussionists on this scene.  I first met David Pattman, Hamish Orr and Patrick Cameron back in the 80s when the African and Latin music … Read more

Afro Cuban Music Night

Bombo Productions runs a monthly Afro Cuban Music Night in Dalston, usually on the first Monday or Tuesday of the month. Last week’s session was graced by the presence of the incredible Cuban-born singer Martha Gallaraga, known to many simply as Martica. I don’t normally take photos at these sessions as I tend to sing … Read more

Some pictures of the London Lucumi Choir open rehearsal

Today, The London Lucumi Choir (the fantastic Afro-Cuban Choir I sing with) had an open rehearsal at Premises Studio in Hackney. This was part of an international initiative of singing for peace and healing. Some of the participants were experienced members of the choir but there were also people who had never sung with us … Read more

women and percussion: women who play bata

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