I am a songwriter and composer based in North London and I have been involved in the music scene of this wonderful global city since my days at the African and South American arts centre Jenako Arts in the early 80s. That was where I introduced London to Capoeira music by bringing over a master from Brazil, and promoted interest in the Kora by bringing Sanjali Jobarteh here. We also provided some of the acts for the first Womad festivals,the Nimes festival of street music and other. We brought Arrow (Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot) to the UK, as well as Ruben Blades, Yemaya and others. It was also where I worked closely with the Goan jazz guitarist Amancio D'Silva and the leader of Orchestra Jazira, Folo Graff - a collaboration that lasted many years. Having grown up 'on the run' in Canada, Mexico and all over southern England, I think London is the ideal place to provide a permanent home to someone who wants to experience world music. The only place that beats it for musical innovation is New York. After Jenako Arts I worked with the music department at Hackney College. This was where I collaborated with the vistuoso jazz pianist and music educationalist Chris Wilson. Sadly, this department has now closed. Since that time I have been trying to oraganise and give final arrangements to a back catalogue of some 300 pieces in a wide range of styles: Jazz, Latin, Folk, early music, minimalist, Indian... Bascally, I have spent too much time making stuff up - often sitting in front of test match cricket on TV - and not enough time getting the music 'out there'. I now have various projects on the go: as well as selling Shelter, I am seeking an up-and-coming jazz singer and ensemble to perform another set of more commercial jazz songs and a wind quintet to record a suite of early/folk pieces.