About Me
Kishon was born in Bangladesh, and brought up in London, studying classical piano from the age of 4. He first came to prominence at the age of 9 winning the "Beryl Silley" memorial award for solo classical piano, and then again at the age of 11 winning the coveted "Isma Govett" trophy. As a teenager he focused on jazz, and supported the likes of the Jazz Warriors, Tom Robinson, and Morrisey and Mullen. By his early 20's he had already performed throughout Europe aswell as spending a year touring with a Baul troop across the mela's of Bangladesh and East India.
In the mid 90’s he started sessioning with a wider variety of bands outside the jazz arena, including tours with Ayub Ogada(Realworld), Francis Fuster’s Ninkiribi project – a 15piece Ghanain outfit, D C Lee – the pop diva, Bushman – Nigerian Afrobeat, as well as establishing himself as a band leader and composer/arranger with his own bands – Bonobo Orchestra, Mysterioso. – with his own unique blend of fusion. In 95 he took his first trip to South Africa, followed by numerous lengthy trips to Havana Cuba between 96 and 99. During this time he continued to cement his reputation for versatility sessioning with bands such as Roberto Pla, Robin Jones, Bukky leo, Paapa J Mensa, and forming a new outfit Motimba, releasing their first album “Monkey Vibrations†in 2002 with Iris music.
In 2000 he took the first of many trips to Brazil – performing and recording in Rio with Dadi, Curly Combo’s, and more recently the cult band Orchestra Imperial de Rio, to name a few. He also continues to return to Bangladesh, having recorded with the band Bangla, regarded as revolutionary in Bangladesh, and sessions across Europe and the world with bands such as Osvaldo Chacon, Bukky Leo and Black Egypt, and ofcourse Motimba.
As well as sessioning in London, he also performs with his quartet – Khandela – having recently played in the House of Commons, aswell as opening for Zakir Hossain and Hariprasad Chaurasia at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall – and is currently promoting his new project – Lokkhi Terra – blending Bangladeshi traditions with African and Latin American and jazz traditions. Their debut performance at QEH London in march 2006 received much critical acclaim, and kishon is currently putting the finishing touches to the forthcoming album.
