About Jules

Jules was given his first drum kit at age 9 by his father, who had been a jazz drummer, band leader and singer himself. Jules has studied tabla, darabouka, djembe and drum kit extensively, and has been able over the past 20 years to utilise these skills as a performer, session player, workshop leader and teacher. He has moved and touched many people musically, from the very young (thousands in schools) to the concert stages as far afield as Glastonbury festival, The Big Chill, Peace One Day, with the band Jambience, and crowds of up to 10,000 at Paris's biggest Festival, Fete De La Musique with Afro-jazz fusion band Nawal.

Having lived in Germany, Greece and Paris during the formative 'musical' years of his life in the 80's and 90's was a great aid and influence to his musical repertoire. His travels east to India and Nepal and Turkey also helped in his study of the craft of playing drums and percussion. This brought him right into to the field multiculturalism and fusion, which is quite appropriate for the times we live in today, where music has become much more eclectic. In Jules words "Music is a universal language more than ever in our 'shrinking' internet world. We are beginning to feel ourselves to be more than ever one Family of Man on One fragile planet Earth, quite interconnected."

After his first trip to India and Nepal in 2001 many things changed. This was when he began to write songs and poetry, and the first result was his 2004 album 'Jewel in the Lotus'. With many guest musicians, and sound recordings actually made in India, the result was a fusion album, of quite Grand scale proportions. Now in 2007/8 we have a change and development with his new album 'Can We Return to the Heart'. In a more homely way Jules has taken all the lead vocals, and put a much firmer stamp on this body of work cutting out a niche as an all round, singer, songwriter, multi instrumentalist. With the creation of a touring band, he is also now a band leader.

There is a connection with drumming, Rhythm and Poetry, and now with the addition of his own vocals he has created a new identity. Jules believes he is following much more in the ancient footsteps, of storytellers, Bards and Shaman rather than in the trends of celebrity and fashion found in pop culture. He says "Strip away the layers and all musical and artistic pursuits will be seen to have these ancient roots". There is no real classification for the music on Jules's new album, but there are aspects of folk, rock and jazz in there for sure, but no one word would easily catergorise it.... Maybe Nu Jazz-Folk-Rock would describe it.

With a nod to the past and yet feet firmly set in contemporary society, Jules believes he is aware of our potent changing times and that this is reflected in the music "Audiences are looking for meaning in the words they listen to, and are seeking out answers to cope with and be eased in their frantic lives more than ever". In Jules's songs a 'still point' can be felt even amidst driving beats, rhythmical words and layered sound scapes. If this work has a degree of success, it will be because of people's great need to feel this stillness in the middle of very fast moving times.

Jules says "It is somewhat strange and yet timely to find myself as a singer, storyteller, and commentator on 'Life' at this point in my life. I was always known as a drummer and percussionist, who also worked with visuals like photography and film. Now kind of miraculously everything has come together at one point and I can use all my skills in one artistic expression. There will be videos, stage presentation and performance, maybe with dancers too, and I will be drawing on all my experience to realise my dreams to touch people in the deepest way possible". These are indeed exciting times for Jules, his entourage and all those who get on board this Magical Mystery Tour Bus.

With old friends on board (Genevieve Applebee, together with Jules in Lotus Gypsy and Kunundrum) and even his 22 year old son Joel (Guitars) taking up his place in the band, Jules will not be travelling alone on this journey. It takes a lot of teamwork and co-operation to realise such a project and vision, and all folk must be counted and thanked. It is very much group effort, and everyone will have a chance to shine musically and artistically.