I play trumpet, flugelhorn and assorted hand percussion in all sorts of world music and jazz contexts. I started in the 80s at many jam sessions sparring with the likes of Jason Rebello, Cleveland Watkiss, Steve Williamson and Courtney Pine,and then studied at the Guildhall School in London under Scott Stroman and Lionel Grigson, where I met Kenny Wheeler, who came and played and recorded with the college jazz band. I was lucky enough to play a duet with him on the CD "Walk Softly". I also met Tim Garland there, who was studying compostion and saxophone. He invited me to join his band 'Points on the Curve', and we toured and recorded an eponymous CD.
Around that time I also discovered World music, especially Afro-Cuban and Brazilian music, coming across Roberto Pla, Bosco De Oliveira and The Grand Union Orchestra. I was also playing in Reggae and Soca bands, and played Notting Hill Carnival several times. The African music scene in London was at it's peak in the 80s and I played with a few bands, mostly Fan Fan Mosese's 'Somo Somo' which played Soucous from Zaire (Congo). We were featured in a John Peel session. I have had a long association with the Tony Haynes' Grand Union Orchestra in which I have played with a bewildering array of folkloric musicians from around the world - Brazil, Chile, Uruguay, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Mozambique, Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea Bissau, Egypt, Turkey, Macedonia, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, China, Australia, USA, can't think of any others right now. What an education that has been!
In the 90s I was a member of Soviet Jewish (from Khazakstan) Clarinet player Gregori Schechter's Klezmer band for several years, playing major concert halls in London and recording several CDs, so I know that Sasha Baron-Cohen's accent for Borat is perfect!
At the same time I was playing with almost every Salsa band in London - notably Conjunto Sabroso, Roberto Pla's Latin Jazz Ensemble, Merengada and Snowboy and the Latin Section (CD Mambo Rage). I joined Alex Wilson's group and recorded with him on 3 CDs for Candid, and another 3 since. Highlights include supporting the Afro-Cuban Allstars on a tour of the UK and Europe in 2000, and collaborating with local musicians in Bogota, Colombia in the Festival International De Jazz De Teatro Libre.
I travelled to Cuba in 1999 and was bowled over by the openness and warm reception, and of course, being immersed in a completely musical culture. Having met the Buena Vista musicians in London I made a bee line for Cachaito, and ended up playing with Guillermo Rubalcaba's Charanga Band at a party for Ruben Gonzales' birthday in the Casa De La Musica. The great man got up and jammed with the band, of course. I must mention an amazing Cuban flautist, Joaquim Oliveras, who took me under his wing and introduced me to many of the top musicians in Havana.
In 2001 in New York I met and played with my hero of Afro-Cuban trumpet, Chocolate Armentero. What a gent. After I introduced myself he invited me up on stage to duet with him. I was in Heaven!
In the Brazilian field I have played with Mônica Vasconcelos' group 'Nóis' (3 CDs out on Candid Records) also contributing some compositions.
Through working with a lot of Northern and Scottish musicians in the 90s I got involved with another scene altogether - the folkies. I did a few 'Big People' festivals in Newcastle and met some fantastic folk musicians, Alistair Anderson, Karen Tweed, Mary MacMaster, Ian Carr, Simon Thoumire. It was an amazing festival, as the musicians were from several fields, but were thrown together to make enough music for about 5 gigs in the space of 4 days. Through meeting Karen Tweed there, I subsequently played in her May Monday project (CD 'May Monday'), also discovering the amazing Scandinavian folk scene.
At the same time I have tried to keep up the jazz playing, running several groups over the years and playing some big band jazz from time to time. I have been with John Etheridge's Group 'The Zappatistas' (the music of Frank Zappa) since it's inception in 1997(CD 'Live In Leeds')
In the last few years I have been working with my favourite band, Manteca, a funky boogaloo and salsa group, playing lots of clubs and festival and recording a CD 'Tremendo Boogaloo' (Freestyle Records).Check my videos for a short clip
I met the love of my life, Clare, in 2000 and we have collaborated musically on several projects; a trio with the late great Pete Jacobson (CD 'Believing in Angels'), Claridade, a Brazilian/Jazz quintet (CD 'A Vontade'), Clare's latest jazz CD 'The Music And I', and an adorable daughter, Maia.
Teaching and educational projects include the CYM , a London based Saturday specialist music school, and involvement in the ABRSM jazz horns syllabus.
I have started my own world jazz Quintet, ShantiJazzWorld, and have a new CD out "Round Trip" on Candid Records. We launch it at the Pizza Express in Dean Street on the 1st November 2007.
links
Shanti Paul Jayasinha
Vinilemania salsa site
Clare Foster jazz vocals and education
Manteca
Alex Wilson
Nois CDs for sale
John Etheridge
Karen Tweed
Snowboy
Tim Garland