Performing in Ethiopia
What was it like to perform at concerts with Paul
popular music venue have taught me so much.
Simon’s band?
Frankly, I feel that small intimate clubs are my
favourite way to perform. Now that I have been doing
Prior to Paul’s band, I had never attended a pop music
more performing in concert halls, the acoustic balance
performance since I was young, so the very first time
of large orchestral ensembles is an amazingly difficult
we performed, when there were literally thousands of
art to master, and I find that the most challenging
people who were emotionally moved, it kind of blew
these days!
me away. There were four generations of people in
Paul’s crowd! I remember how different the thinking
You have recently accompanied Paul Simon
was during rehearsals, many things were really
performing a Graceland tour in Europe. How do
calculated for success in the popular, large-crowd
you see the contribution that he has made to
musical experience, and how well Paul’s leadership
bringing world music into popular culture?
choices paid off. While I still consider myself
primarily a jazz musician because that setting uses the
Paul does what so many contemporary musician wish
best of my skills, the lessons learned performing in a
they could do as well. He will go to any end to work