Hello thank you for visiting this post. Juggling is one of those skills to be reckoned with, watch this video in awe of the incredible dexterity of the performers.
A massive thank you to the jugglers:
Anabel McAtee, Lisa Lottie, Shemika Campbell, Sphere, Sam Tobey,
The magic in this album is reflected in the ensemble playing, the intoxicating drumming, and the speed at which the simple idea of it to fruition was a total of 6 days. The one-day session was booked on a Friday at a studio in Paris. The previous Saturday in a telephone conversation with pianist Grégory Privat, the music hadn’t even been written yet. At the end of that conversation, I got down to it. Each song I wrote immediately sending both the parts and midi sound files to the musicians because they were going to be no rehearsal. Both Gregory and bassist Eric Vinceno had worked with me in different engagements in Paris, Germany, and Amsterdam. The two Ka drummers Sonny Troupé and Jean-Emmanuel Fatna were brought in by Grégory. For me, there were no better people on the planet to make this record with.
It’s Caribbean Jazz, it’s Gwo Ka music, in concept anyway. Gwo Ka music traditionally has singing, chanting , and it’s rhythmic structures are something you really have to know. There are artists from both jazz and classical music, that have drawn upon Gwo Ka, US saxophonist David Murray for one. But I don’t think anyone has quite made a Gwo Ka CD like this one.
Three of the titles are named after Islands of the Caribbean my family is from. Dominica where my father hails from, St.Lucia my mother, and a lot of family in Martinique. We have others in St Maarten and St Thomas. There are titles named after people, two, unfortunately, deceases, Danny Felix my cousin, and Joanna Riseboro, a young lady who kind of became a bit like family in North London. Joanna being the sister of a school friend James Riseboro, James forming our very first improvisatory group together, alongside another school friend Ian da Costa. Ben and Tanya are other friends in the London area. Ben, being at Pimlico school with us too.
On small point, I changed the order of the songs in this video from what was published on the first run of CDs.
This song order in the video runs as:
Martinique, The Entrepreneur, Ballad of Danny, St. Lucia, Gout de Chocolaté, Ben and Tanya, Flow Time, Joanna, Dominica.
Have fun and enjoy Flow Time Gwo Ka, thank you and all the best, David Jean-Baptiste
Hello and thank you for being here. Seriously, I am deeply grateful and excited to show up for you in this video. What I honour about you is, that you care enough about your own development to show up for yourself.
I’d say I’m a big deal, a human potential consulting musician. A master clarinetist and saxophonist, having lived a life playing locations around the world in one context or another. The author of books in the field of human transformation, Flow Centre, 10 Money Strategies for Growth in Changing Times, and Finding Balance. Eleven beautiful CDs of music, from the most recent: Flow Time Gwo Ka, A Beautiful Intention, Clarinet Therapy, East to South, Quiet Mind, Sketches of Classicism, Lazy Gangstas, The Nature Suite, Neuriba, Feeling Tones, Groove on a 4. Endorsements, a book on Music and Memory, a Scale and Harmony System for Clarinet, Saxophone and Flute. A Masters Degree in Composing for Film and Television.
Today, I can stand tall being proud of the value I’ve added to the lives of people over the years. Over the past 25 years, I too have a wealth of experience testing, adapting, using, and developing the tools I have invented. Helping you get where you desire to go. What do I care about? I want to help you get from where you are now to where you desire to go, prestissimo! For those of you not familiar with the Italian language, and musical performance terminology, it means, as fast as possible!
I feel alive and excited when thinking about , what is there for me in the world to do, and live for, from now to the end of my life. When I get to the end of my life, I want to feel that I gave it my best shot; leaving nothing on the table. That’s what I live for, day by day, step by step, enriching the lives of people I come into contact with. yet it wasn’t always so, and I didn’t always feel that way.
Those of you familiar with the history of the majority of Caribbean people in the United Kingdom, will know that the period after the end of the second world war. The crown sent an open invitation to the people of the Caribbean Islands, then under British rule. Tens of thousands of people emigrated from Dominica, like my Father. From St. Lucia, like my mother. Jamaica, and other Islands. To be part of the rebuilding effort.
In London and other cities in the UK, they worked low-paid jobs. No blacks, no Irish, no dogs, was a reality for many back then. I was brought up on a rough council housing estate in Mile End, East London. Today, it is a highly sought-after area to live. But back then it was trouble.
Growing up with my mother, come rain, snow, or shine, I would wake up early at the weekend. On Saturdays helping her work her stall in Crisp Street market. On Sundays, in Brick Lane market. It wasn’t an easy life, installing in you a kind of toughness that’s hard to be compared to anything else. Stepney Green Boys was the school I attended; which was largely filled with nutters, and some brilliant people too.
The truly good news is, I found my gift of music young. Lucky enough to have some incredibly supportive people in my life, I went from strength to strength. Receiving award after award. Later moving to Pimlico School, which had the only government funded special music course in the United Kingdom. Achieving 140 in my grade 8 clarinet exam which is outrageously good. Also, before leaving school for conservatory, I was placed as the principal clarinetist of The London Youth Synfonietta; which was a big deal for me.
Being focused and committed to being a better player, I resorted to learning the Alexander Technique, from a local teacher near my then North London flat. That’s when the personal development stuff started to kick in. In addition to Alexander, I became a Silva Graduate. Got certificated by Richard Bandler and Paul McKenna, in NLP Trainers Training. Certificated by John Grinder and Julian Russell, at Pace Personal Development. Got deeply into Advaita meditation, based on Advaita philosophy at the London School of Meditation. All alongside building a successful career in music.
The Guardian newspaper highlighted me as, one the the younger musicians most likely to succeed. Also as, the new hope of the clarinet. I suppose the saxophone was much more popular and more commercial than the clarinet.
After a myriad of gorgeous experiences. Beautiful relations, love affairs and breath-taking sunsets in jaw-dropping locations in the world; I find myself where I am today. Totally committed to getting even better, and even more fulfilled. Absolutely carrying an attitude of, “I haven’t seen anything yet.” And I mean it; not only for myself, but for you too. Asking, “how can I continue to live a life full of deeper appreciation?”
I want to talk to you about building a path of milestones for yourself. Lighting each milestone up, and propelling you forward to achieve your ambitions and dreams.
I want to talk to you about Accelerating the Motion, stacking together, and amplifying your positive emotions, so you can do anything you care to.
I want to talk to you about your happiness and fulfilment.
Do you care to share with me. what it is you want to talk about?
I’m not the expert you are. You know much more about what you need than I do. Show me your brilliance, and share with me your struggle. I care for you, am there for you, and always will be. I am your service provider. I have nothing to defend, pretend, or hide. I want to show up for you, fill you up energetically and guide you through. Bringing you lessons from the levels I have moved through.
Can you tell me what does a win look like for you?
I want to create a safe space, to have a richly rewarding, open conversation with you. What excites you? If you could wave a magic wand, how would you desire to live the rest of your life? I’m connected to your breakthrough more than I am my own image.
Each day is a miniature version of the rest of your life. Make every day count. Let’s talk.
