Just got back from Japan again – really enjoyed it. Playing at Metamorphose was out of this world and I'm already looking forward to the WW showcase at Liquid Rooms on October 23^rd. This year it’s got a slight Cuban feel to it and will feature the brilliant Salsa Swingoza, Quasimode and Chromanium alongside the annual DJ battle which this year includes Muro, Mitsu and Kentaro – it’s gonna be a big one! Big ups to Mari and all the crew at JWave, Tokyo's number one commercial radio station that still, for some surreal reason, puts out my Worldwide 15 during drive-time Monday through Thursday. It’s like the equivalent of Jo Wiley having me on for 4 songs every afternoon on Radio 1!!!

The next big thing for me is the release of the 'Havana Cultura' album I recorded in Cuba in June with Roberto Fonseca and Vince Vella. It was such a major experience for me and I'm really delighted with the results – we did the whole thing in just 5 days but the vibes are well and truly in place. There'll be loads of podcasts and videos coming to give you an even better taste, but in the meantime I'll slip a couple more tunes onto the myspace and Radio 1 show. The album comes out in October and there'll be parties in Leeds, Manchester, London and Paris in November – we had a great one last Saturday in Madrid with Free Hole Negro live and DJ Wichy playing with me. Hopefully we'll get to do stuff in November with Danay (amazing singer) and Ogguere (killer hip hop) too.

Other than all that I was really excited to walk into Sounds Of The Universe the other day and pick up a copy of the book I just compiled with Stuart Baker – 'Revolutionary Sleeves...' looks amazing and I have to say, considering its a hard back, is an absolute snip at 20 quid... a perfect christmas gift for anyone curious about off beat art or spiritual jazz!

Oh gosh, this week I'm doing 3 nights at Ronnie Scott’s who are celebrating 50 years... so them and Time Out asked me to put a little line-up together: jazz on Thursday with Nostalgia 77 featuring Keith and Julie Tippett plus Matthew Halsall coming down from Manchester with his quintet. It’s Afro and hip hop on Friday with Tony Allen, Roots Manuva and (good timing!) Speech Dabelle; and finally on Saturday, (Ronnie will turn in his grave) we’ve put together an electronic night featuring Mount Kimbie, Henrik Schwarz and Bugge Wesseltoft. I'm also gonna slip off for a late set at Fabric on Friday with Marky, Prince Paul (looking forward to seeing him again!) and Freddie Foxxx!

What else is up?? Well my eldest started secondary school last week – that was weird; I've decided I just feel sorry for Emmanuel Adebayor (check my sports blogs on KSpace.TV); Goin’ Downstairs, the club night, should be back soon at Life; the Horo comp comes out in the new year; a WW10 comp should be coming out on BBE in 2010 too. Plus I've just been in the studio with Clipz and I’ve done a couple of remixes with Simbad due out soooooon!

Oh, and my new website will be ready for full on 'everything' in about a month.... and before I forget the Radio 1 show moves to Tuesdays next week.

Laters

GP

Yes, I've certainly let the old blogging slip. Maybe the introduction of Twitter - I don't know but I'm back with my end of summer report!

It all started tremendously well on the banks of the Med in July. We were back in Sete for the 4th edition of the Worldwide Festival. Having started sort of badly with the loss of my wallet at the Gare de Lyon, everything improved the moment we landed to a brief shower at Sete Central. In fact, it was here that I saw the first of many newcomers to the festival – curious Brits tired of the same old routine in the UK searching for a slightly different experience.

I think it worked this year – possibly a little too much techno at some points but all round it was a festival with many great musical highlights – Dorian Concept in the rain, Laurent Garnier without his equipment, Mocky and his girls, SOIL & “PIMP” bettering their previous highs, Jimi Tenor stepping up Afro-psych style, Theo Parrish brought his own mixer without soundchecking (bad move!), Carl Craig playing Har You’s 'Welcome to The Party', Simbad and Lefto MC'ing when I just couldn't anymore! The bPm missing his set (pow!!) but then turning out a blinder in revenge at the end of the day, Rutten/Okino/Eddy and Yannah making the final afternoon on the beach one of class and heritage, and D.O.P smashing the place to pieces in the night... so many great memories!

And best of all a brilliant crowd: loads of 'veterans' from the first three years plus a brilliant mixture of new crew to spice things up. I think we reached a kind of tipping point this year but we're still learning and some improvements will be made again next year. I'm already working on the line-up and the Freshly Cut crew are working on improving sound and facilities. I don't want this festival to become predictable or just another slightly “left” dance fest. For me it’s all about hearing 'Theme de Yoyo' on the beach or 'Sweet and Sour' by The Crusaders at 4am alongside a bit of Martyn or Fulgeance. It’s about having the power to drop an obvious classic knowing that the groundwork was done.

I have to thank Alex Jazzanova for possibly my favourite set of the weekend – he absolutely delivered on the Saturday night whilst the entire backstage crew was searching for plugs and rare technical appliances to get the Garnier show on! It seems like a long time ago now but, with the summer more or less done and dusted we can really start looking forward to edition 5 next year during the World Cup Quarter Final weekend!

WWF aside, I played out as much as most years in 2009. Loved the boat trip with Adam Regan and friends at the Garden Festival, had fun in Sofia with Crazy P, had some brilliant times in Corsica where we're looking to do a mini WW Fest fringe thing next summer. Tenerife was a first for me and it was great to play back to back with Truby and Simbad. Camp Bestival was strange when they turned the lights on and I suddenly realized that half the crowd was under 10! Playing Corsica Studios with the 'We Fear Silence' collective was really refreshing too. So all in all a good summer.