Tom Chapman

I've just finished a jazz degree in Birmingham, where I'm now based and co-run Cobweb Collective 's Thursday Jazz at The Yardbird . I've played jazz alongside some very inspiring people over the last few years and life at music college has been quite an intense learning experience. I'm playing with my own trio featuring Mike Fletcher and Percy Pursglove; with The Yardbird Nonet, which has been working with Frank Griffith and I recently had the pleasure of playing with Neil Yates.
Folk and "world" music seem to be taking over most of my energies these days. I'm currently percussionist with the wonderful Chris While 's band [While and Matthews, Albion Band, Fairport Convention] We're going to be touring from mid September. Her third solo album, "Rosella Red", on which I play cajon and percussion has just come out and will be available online soon.
Also just released is Paolo DeGregorio 's documentary "Los Caminos Del Cajon" - it charts the history and global spread of the cajon, featuring footage of DG artists from all over the world. Here is just a short list of featured players - Miguel "Anga" Diaz (R.I.P.), Angel "Cepillo" Sanchez, Rubem Dantas, Stewart Copeland, Hamid Drake, Sheila E., John Sparrow, Juan Flores, Zakir Hussain...
My segment consists of a new version of The Balkan Divorce Dance by Trevor Lines. This tune has been featured on the last two UK tours of The Folk Ensemble, another band in which I play cajon. It's an incredible show, led by Joe Broughton, with up to 65 members of the large ensemble, breaking down into smaller formats throughout the show. We've just released Tap And Smile: The Folk Ensemble Live DVD.
Please also check out links (below) to my regular bands, The Old Dance School and The Bright Size Gypsies.
This video is of The Balkan Divorce Dance by Trevor Lines and Features Trev, Joe Broughton, Dave Adams and me, back when I had my first ever cajon. Sound's a bit dodgy because I'm playing on broken strings!

VIDEO COURTESY OF THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE AT Folk Films