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When I was twelve, and studying at
the Faraday High School in London, I was frustrated that
I was unable to progress from playing a school
recorder. I owe a great debt of gratitude to my English
teacher at that time, Miss Conroy. It was she who
introduced me to classical music, and realised how my
musical ability was being wasted because I did not have
a flute. She gave me one hundred pounds to purchase a
flute of my own, thereby changing the course of my
life. I am black and British born from a less
privileged singe-parent family, and I have had to
educate myself from childhood with music, sonics and
technology, but the help of Miss Conroy was fundamental
at this early age. |
In order to develop my flute playing and music theory more fully, I
attended Miles Coverdale Junior School in Shepherds Bush. I
attended every Thursday and was able to play in a small orchestra
there and develop both my ability to play the flute and my awareness
of music.
‘O’ level music was studied at Kingsway College in Kings Cross, and
subsequently I auditioned and was accepted at the Guildhall School
of Music and Drama, Barbican, London. During the two years I was
there, I studied Jazz improvisation, and received flute tuition with
Kate Lucas, a principal flautist.
I owe a great deal to one man, the trumpeter, composer and author
Ian Carr, who changed my life. At the age of nineteen I
attended the Ian Carr class at WAC in Chalk Farm. He opened a door for
me and I could hear and see the whole world of music in a great
and more focused way from his teaching. It was Ian Carr who
introduced me to Miles Davis.
I have spent the last two years writing and
developing a new album. I have called upon musicians and
artistes with whom I grew up to perform on this album such as
Courtney Pine (OBE) and Tony Remy. Many other great musicians
of the highest standard, such as Jason Rabello (pianist for
Sting), have also participated in putting together this
collection without any company support. The idea behind it is
to make an easy listening soulful jazz classical album featuring
great soloists.
What I intend to express is the
multi-cultural collaboration of great musicianship and
diversity by simply creating beautiful listening music that
allows us not to forget the wonder of live instruments and
great performances.
I strongly feel that with the collaboration of
various artistes with their high standards of musicianship I am
achieving something which has a message for a world audience. I
also believe that this album and my flute playing will give
inspiration and hope to the up-and-coming younger generation,
especially black children.
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