Alex Wilson - Afro Saxon

Alex is totally at ease with his "Afro Saxon" lineage, having been born in Belper, Derbyshire to parents of English and Sierra Leonean ancestry. His musical roots have developed since moving to London in 1993 and his increasing involvement in a variety of "jazz mixes" into which he has fitted with consumate ease.

They say that variety is the spice of life - well there is plenty of variety and spice to savour in this debutalbum. Check out Alex's arranging skills throughout ('Hurtin' Me,' 'Nature Boy' etc) and his steamingly percussive playing, especially on 'Aria Baby.'

Highlights are Paul Jayasingha's hot, flowing flugel on 'Afria is da Place For Me,' Bobby Watson's fearsome solo on 'Little Suede Shoes' and lyricism on 'Sophisticated Lady.' Ciyo demonstrates on Baracara Island wat an underated artist he is and one can only wonder at the collective rhythmic pulses achieved by David Giovannini, Thomas akura Dyani and the other rhythm players. The two oustanding vocalists on this disc are Gwyn Jay Allen and Lauren Dalrymple.