James Lascelles'
Talking Spirits
Exciting news
The new Talking Spirits album "Hands" has been released on Zephyrus Records, a world music company based in Gent, Belgium on June 9th, 2023. We have mastered it in Brussels. Tracks feature regular band members Tim Herniman, Richard Bailey and Kuma Harada as well as guests Tony Maronie on congas, Didier Malherbe (once of "Gong") on Duduk and Sax and the wonderful Mongolian group Andaunion, for whom I specially wrote Grasslands to feature the haunting Morinhuur (horse-hair fiddle) and Hoomei or overtone singing.
Our style of music has been called "World Jazz", which, for want of a better title, seems to fit. In truth, a mix of Folk, Jazz, Latin, Funk and Anglo-Caribbean grooves comprising wonderfully creative seasoned musicians including:
James Lascelles - Keyboards, Dulcimer, Melodica & assorted Percussion
Richard Bailey - Drums, percussion
Kuma Harada - Bass
Tim Herniman - Saxes, violin
There are many other "Talking Spirits' who contribute such as Mikey Bailey and Michael Curtis Ruiz on Bass, GT Moore on Guitar and vocals, Bud Beadle on Saxes and Flute and perc, Winston Delandro on Guitar, Tony Maronie on Congas, Bongos and Percussion to name but a few. Growing up with these musicians and playing together with different line-ups including The Breakfast Band, Global Village Trucking Company and performing with the likes of Frank Zappa, Joan Armatrading, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Annette Peacock, Steve Winwood, Incognito, Jeff Beck, Mick Taylor, Van Morrison, Billy Ocean, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel has fine-tuned their music and playing to a fine art.
We are currently inviting bookings for gigs and festivals worldwide.
GIGS:
2023
Friday, March 24th at Seven Artspace, Chapel Allerton, Leeds from 8pm, doors open 7.30http://www.sevenleeds.co.uk/event/james-lascelles-talking-spirits-2/
2022
Friday, October 7th at Seven Artspace, Chapel Allerton, Leeds from 8pmThursday, June 30th at Tower Theatre, North Road, Folkestone, Kent CT20 3HL United Kingdom from 6.30-11pm
Wed, June 29, Fredericks' restaurant, Market Buildings, Earl Street, ME14 1HP Maidstone, UK from 7.30/8pm, original music while you eat and beyond. /private gig/
Talking Spirits EPK - November 2021 .PDF
The Roundhay World Music & World Food Festival
With My LEEDS Summer well and truly with us (part of Leeds 2023 Year of Culture), one of the highlights will be a superb, family friendly, World Music & World Food Festival taking place on the Soldiers Field, Princes Avenue just by Roundhay Park, on Saturday 17thJune.
Bring your chairs and blankets (and sun screen!) and listen to an eclectic mix of music featuring Salsa and Cuban band – Charanga del Norte, kicking off the concert at 2.00pm and guaranteed to get you on your feet and swaying those hips, followed by a tribute to our Ukrainian residents, with a visitor to Leeds giving us some traditional Ukrainian singing; closely followed by the well-known, and loved, choir from St Gemma’s Hospice who are the event charity.
Caribbean Breeze follows, transporting you to Jamaica with the sunshine sounds of steel pans, then, the amazing “super-group”, Caution Collective with the very best of Leeds musicians and singers giving us Reggae, Soul, R&B and Jazz in their inimitable style, led by musician/composer/singer extraordinaire, Christella Litras.
The pupils of Leeds City Academy’s LCA Grooves entertain us followed by Raunakh Mela, a traditional Punjabi Folk and Dhol Drumming act.
Another amazing line-up gives us Talking Spirits, whose members boast their involvement with the likes of Frank Zappa, Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel, Joan Armatrading, Van Morrison, Billy Ocean, Jeff Beck and many, many more.
Finally, we have Ubunye - the pounding rhythms of Africa blended with the explosive energy of a live band. This vibrant group of Zulu performers combined with seasoned musicians from the UK, mix ancient tradition with contemporary flare. The perfect way to round off the evening!
All these live acts introduced by the effervescent JoJo Kelly from Capital Radio and music between acts provided by Screwloose Sound System.
What a great line-up for a perfect Summer’s day – what could be better?
This is what could be better ….. a great selection of world food and drink vendors dotted around the site means you don’t have to leave the Festival for interesting and different refreshments. A real Mr Whippy ice-cream van and Scott Pullen’s famous fairground rides for the children.
Oh, and, did we say, it’s FREE admission?!?!
Perfect!
Talking Spirits - As I Was Walking
Talking Spirits - Desert'd
Contact: jlascales@aol.com