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 23rd. 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