Bands and Musicians - Dead Can Dance, Lisa Gerrard,Brendan Perry, Black Sabbath, Bitch Magnet, Walt Mink, Meshuggah, Mozdzer Danielsson Fresco, Glen Velez, Ziryab Trio, Aicha Redouane, Masada, Medeski Martin and Wood.
Drummers - Mitch Mitchell, Neal Peart, Orestes Delatorre, Bill Ward, Joey Baron, Billy Martin, Zohar Fresco, Glen Velez, Nabil Khaiat, Habib Yammine, Michel Merhej Baklouk, Adel Shams El Din, Ali El Khatib, Heshem Al Araby, Samir Bin Ya Amin., Ibrahim El Minyawi, Khamis Henkish, Layne Redmond, .
"a master tabla player and a virtuoso on the riq…which sings under his fingers" Metro
"The audience were entranced by his speed, dexterity and mastery" Alt Culture
"a fabulously talented and intuitive arabic drummer" Lorna Gow
I was born into a musical family and first touched a drumkit at the age of ten. In my early teens I found my first musical love - Heavy Rock. Inspired by drummers like Mitch Mitchell of the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Neal Peart of Rush, I dabbled playing in covers bands and with my mum :)
At sixteen, I joined my first serious band - Lincolnshire hardcore punk legends Vehicle Derek. A shared love of bands like The Stupids, Minor Threat, Slayer and Bitch Magnet drew our disparate personalities together and for three short but intense years, we rocked the local and national scenes and are still remembered by folks who went to our gigs back then.
In late 1991 I moved to Leeds and shortly after began a stint as sticksman with turbulent but magnificent avant rockers Chest, a band seemingly ever on the brink of making it big.
By 1996, my musical focus had shifted from Rock music and drumkit, and I bought my first hand drum, a Pakistani made dumbek which I studied with the help of a Tim Garside video, and played constantly. I also started taking lessons in Indian tabla at Leeds Music College.
In 1999, I made a return to the drumkit, playing with pianist Simon Siddol. Joined by Chris Smith, former bassist of Chest, we became The Little Wooden Buddhas - jazz, hip hop and drum n bass were our springboard into wild improvisation. This inspiration led me into a sideline of playing solo drumkit live drum and bass sets at parties.
In 2001, I began intense study of Afro Root drums and rhythms with local percussionist Phen. We played African, Cuban and Brazilian music together for the next six years, in various incarnations of the band Honeydrum.
In 2004 I joined Sawateen, playing indian fusion with fiery Italian guitar maestro Giuliano Moderelli and violin virtuoso Olivia Moore. I continued to play with Giules and Oli in a nameless group nicknamed Mediterranean Soul with the great Spanish bassist Javier Geras and French flute artist Ninon Foiret. Oli left to pursue her own creative dreams and the group eventually disbanded, strangely leading to us all playing together more :)
I joined Oli in her musical endeavours and we became Unfurl. We were later joined by Mancunian jazz whiz Stuart Macallum on guitar and Frank Grime on upright bass. After Frank recently left the band, Pete Turner joined us to cement the current Unfurl lineup. Oli has just released her first album, featuring material from Unfurl and the Olivia Moore Quartet.
I continue to play and teach all the instruments I have studied - drumkit, congas, djembe, cajon, frame drums and darabuka among others.
My main instrument and enduring obsession is the Egyptian riq, with which I strive for virtuosity, playing traditional Egyptian style as well as taking inspiration from innovators such as Glen Velez, Zohar Fresco and Layne Redmond.
My musical focus for the last few years has mainly been on the music and drums of the Arab world. I perform and teach internationally with Oriental dancers and troupes. In this context, I must mention my friend and collaborator Guy Schalom and the mighty Sheikh Taha, with whom I have recorded two albums as part of the Baladi Blues Ensemble.
I should also mention Al Teslim Ensemble, a classical Arab music group from Finland, who I perform with.
At the beginning of 2009, I am reacquainting myself with my congas and beginning to play salsa again with a new band, Los Altibajos. (see below). I am also returning to my drum stool, reclaiming my chops and looking forward to getting back into the world of gigging behind a kit
I also have the privilege of playing frequently with many other great musicians both individually as well as in bands.– Guy Schalom, Giuliano Moderelli, Kalia Baklitzanaki, Mahalia Child…to name only a few.
Hi Adam hope you are well, Would have loved to have made it to Planet Egypt and seen you and Guy play but was working myself that night. Get in touch when you are down this way again. Take care. Wade.
Hello Rhythmic Ginger, thanks for stopping by and sharing the nice comments. Just enjoyed your riq solo, beautiful playing! All the best to you, Miranda
Wir laden dich ein, dir unsere Stücke „Geistes Sehnsucht“, „Verloren im ewigen Sand“, „Fallende Engel”, “Im Polarkreis”, und “Ferne Welten” anzuhören – und dir unsere neuen Musikvideos anzusehen.
Wir freuen uns über einen Kommentar – auch im Gästebuch unserer Homepage, auf der du nun die „TOP 10“ des letzten Jahres anhören kannst:
Tremendous stuff Adam. You always were a talented git. Checked my site out yet? Haven't got your skills but giving it a go. If you're doing a gig and can fit someone else on the bill, give us a shout!
..
