Next course

January 13th to March 17th 2015, every Tuesday morning 11.45-1.15 at City Lit.

I'm running a 10 week class for all comers, professional and beginner alike, in Central London, starting next week. 

Listening to and playing songs and tunes from 3 continents, putting together a set for any sudden bookings we might get, world tours etc. It may involve Samba, Bhangra, South African jazz, Hilife and Klezmer, and more. Simple tunes and grooves.

There's drums, percussion and mikes at the City Lit, plus a couple of melodicas and pianos [even a xylophone or three]. Bring your own instrument if you have one. For more info see attached course outline and visit the City Lit website.

I will coordinate with London world music gigs during this time, with a bit of themed linking.

If you can't make it you know someone that it would be just grand for, so pass this on.

Sarha

Calypso

Origins include Kaiso from Nigeria

The distinctive Calypso beat is demonstrated here on the drum kit.

Stone Cold Dead in the Market 1939 by Wilmoth Houdini: Trinidad and Tobago musician who moved to New York - made famous by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan

Last night he went out drinking
When he came home he gave me a beating
So I picked up me rolling pin
And went to work on his head till I bashed it in

And now he's stone cold dead in the market
Stone cold dead in the market
Stone cold dead in the market
And I killed nobody but me husband

His family they're looking for to kill me
His family they're looking for to kill me
His family they're promising to kill me
But if I killed him, he had it coming

He is stone cold dead in the market
Stone cold dead in the market
Stone cold dead in the market
And I killed nobody but me husband

I beat him with the pot and the frying pan
I bashed him with the pot and the frying pan
Beat him with the pot and the frying pan
If I killed him, I tried to

He is stone cold dead in the market
Stone cold dead in the market
Stone cold dead in the market
And I killed nobody but me husband

There is one thing that I am sure
He ain't going to beat me no more
And I tell you that I doesn't care
if I shall die in the electric chair

He is stone cold dead in the market
Stone cold dead in the market
Stone cold dead in the market
And I killed nobody but me husband

Another calypso song made famous by jazz musicians:  St Thomas

Soca

was a later development

 Soca beat demonstrated here on drums. And here: Soca groove

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