Performing in Ethiopia
landmark recordings, some of which could take over a
As for my migration into the popular music
year to make (not working every day but in
world, I managed to piss off my former musical
concentrated periods). At the end of the day Paul is a
employers because of the protracted touring
great poet and he went to school working alongside
schedules that Paul had. Many of them thought it
great producers, engineers, orchestrators, composers,
was mercenary on my part, but I was 47 when I
arrangers and fantastic world musicians, and none of
started with Paul. Joining his band was actually an
that was wasted on Paul! Frustrating as the process
answer to my prayer – meditating on the wish to
can be at times, he knows what works for him as a
have the qualities of the jazz/world music world that
composer, poet, singer, arranger and orchestrator.
I had come to know be presented and incorporated
Last year Paul’s band performed for a week at “Jazz
into today’s popular music form. There were only a
at Lincoln Centre with Wynton Marsalis” and
few well-known artists that I would have considered
Wynton declared to the crowd that working with Paul
a good bet and who might give me a chance: my
was more like working with Miles Davis than anyone
dream list included Joni Mitchell, Sting and Paul
he had collaborated with!
Simon. This January Sting and Paul are planning to
tour together and I will be playing with both of