Jakko News Feb 2006

It's been a long time since this site was updated. Explanations to follow shortly. We will be updating the site in the next few weeks to coincide with the release of Jakko's new Double CD 'The Bruised Romantic Glee Club'

There is an amended press release to give you an idea of what the album will contain. Along with the players mentioned in this release there are contributions from Jakko's old pal and former band mate Lyndon Connah. Bass playing from Nathan King, tabla and vocals from the brilliant Pandit Dinesh.

The album is very close to being finished with just a few overdubs and mixing to come. We hope to have it out in April.

Sound samples and new photo's will be added to the site shortly, along with an interview to hopefully explain the absence from the web and catching up on what has happened in the intervening time.

In the meantime Jakko has completed the editing, compiling and artwork for the new 21st Century Schizoid Band double CD 'Pictures of a City: Live In New York'

Some live performances for later on n the year are currently being discussed.

The new will be here.

Thanks for your patience

Jakko

February 2006
The Bruised Romantic Glee Club

The Bruised Romantic Glee Club is coming soon. Jakko's long awaited new solo album is being finished. We can confirm that it is to be a 2CD digipak package. It features a mix of powerful new songs and stunning new arrangements of classics from King Crimson, Soft Machine and Henry Cow. There is an all-star line up of guest players. More will be revealed here shortly.

Neil Ingram

April 2002
Sheila Nicholls
Jakko spent the end of last summer commuting from his Hotel, opposite Graumans Chinese theatre on Hollywood Boulevard in sunny LA, to the Jungle Room in Glendale. The Studio, owned by the splendid Brian Reeves, was the venue of the final mixes of  4 tracks for the forthcoming album by Sheila Nicholls. Entitled 'The Sum of Wake' the record is due out on May 15th. Brian Reeves engineered the sessions with a sterling combination of tact and skill. Check out the studio site at  www.jungleroom.net for further info about the studio and e-mail Brian himself for details of the Dan House court case if you are not an animal lover with a nervous disposition.

Tony Hawks
As you will have read before on these pages, Mr Hawks is a comedian and author whose best selling books 'Round Ireland with a Fridge' and 'Playing the Moldovans at Tennis' are currently being followed up by another bet inspired literary tome. Entitled 'One Hit Wonderland' He has to obtain a hit record somewhere in the world. Jakko has continued to help him in this endeavour. Though he cant quite work out why. In October and November he found himself working on various tracks. One involved travelling to the Isle of Wight to record ex boss and band mate Mark King playing bass on a track created out of recordings of a kids choir that Tony recorded whilst out in a war zone in the Sudan. Camera crew in tow these trips will eventually appear in the TV series that will accompany the new book. Jakko also found himself playing on a Hawks/ Tim Rice composition called 'Big In Albania'. This features lead vocals by Sir Norman Wisdom and was be released in Albania where Norman is indeed a celebrity of Royalty like proportions. Such is Tony's desperation to succeed.

Dizrhythmia
December and January was spent recording and editing tracks for the new Dizrhythmia record with friend and fellow band mate Gavin Harrison. By late January 6 tracks were actually finished and mixed. Hard to believe given the length of time this ongoing project has taken. Negotiations for the albums release have commenced whilst Gav and Jakko plan to get together with Danny Thompson to finish the final couple of tracks. Cont/

Schizoid Band
Following some exploratory rehearsals in December a band called 'The 21^st Century Schizoid Band' is now more than hopeful that the autumn will see them touring Europe, the UK, Japan and possibly the US. As anyone with a passing interest in the music of King Crimson will assume this is indeed a Crimson related project. There is a repertoire of Crimson material that is never played by the current group of that name. The idea is that a band of ex Crim members will tour playing this material for the first time in years along with new stuff and selections form the individuals solo work and related records. The current line up of the Schizoid Band is:

Schizoid Band rehearsal. Real World December 2001'

Michael Giles (ex Giles, Giles & Fripp, King Crimson & McDonald & Giles) on Drums.
Ian McDonald (ex Giles, Giles & Fripp, King Crimson, McDonald & Giles & Foreigner) on Woodwinds & Keys
Mel Collins (ex King Crimson & Many others) on Woodwinds and keys
Peter Giles (ex Giles, Giles & Fripp & King Crimson) on Bass

Why the hell are we telling you this??? Well, on guitar and lead vocal is the only non ex Crimson member. It is indeed Jakko. The band first show will be at the Canterbury Festival, on August 24^th at Mount Ephraim Gardens, Hernhill, Near Faversham, Kent
Confirmed shows and/or development will be posted here as soon as possible.
jakko has also been asked to post a daily dairy at the King Crimson related site Krimson News at http://diaries.krimson-news.com/  The first postings should be up on April 15^th.

Peter Blegvad
Peter starts a tour supporting his friend Loudon Wainright on April 12^th at the opera house in Newcastle. He has asked Jakko to join him at the London show which they will perform as a duo. This is at the Bloomsbury Theatre on April 20^th.

Coming soon!
New Pic's and MP3's of previews and work in progress

And Finally……..
On a personal level, news that Jakko's Wife Amanda is 7 months pregnant with a baby boy due on May 30. Cynics might suggest that his impending touring schedule and this news are not entirely unconnected

News August  2001

Sheila Nicholls
Jakko spent most of May and June producing 4 songs for the forthcoming  Sheila Nicholls album (see previous news item's) The recordings feature John Giblin on fretless bass (Ex Simple Minds, Pete Gabriel, Kate Bush) Gavin Harrison on drums and percussion,Richard Barbieri (Japan, Porcupine Tree) on Synthesisers, The legendary Danny Thompson on Double Bass, The incredible acoustic guitar playing of the genius that is Nick Harper (Jakko say's 'if you ever see any of his solo shows advertised you owe it to yourself to go, he's brilliant') and a wonderful string quartet led by the splendid Caroline Lavelle on Cello. Jakko is jetting off to LA in the 2^nd week of August for a few weeks to complete and mix the finished tracks.
Holszt
This was quickly followed by the composition and recording of a quartet
playing Jakko's variations on Holszt's Jupiter from the planet suite for the
Launch of a new youth orchestra at a large event in Switzerland.

Akiko
Jakko has just played on a new album by Akikio Koyobashi (AKA Holi) which is
being produced by Steve Jansen.  

Hawks
Jakko has been helping his pal Tony Hawks recording and producing music for his new book and TV series about working  in the music business.  Check out Tony's previous best sellers 'Round Ireland with a Fridge' and 'Playing the Moldovans at Tennis' They're hilarious, according to Tony anyway.
And On
Jakko has also been trying to finish the Dizrythmia record and  his new solo CD. However a new project to record an album of  string quartets may supersede this. More details in the next update. Plans are a foot for a solo gig in London later on in the year. More details if and when this becomes confirmed. He has also been learning tunes for rehearsals with a new, as yet unnamed, band featuring 3 of his childhood heroes. More details as this becomes a reality.     

News April 2001

Update's  - Whenmost website's fail to update their news section for months there is normally a pretty good reason. There's not much happening. Here at Jakko.com, however, the opposite is usually true. Indeed the past few months, Jakko's work load has been such that he's found it very difficult to send us info to update the site. So what has  been happening? January was spent composing an flamenco influenced orchestral piece in sensurround for a Compaq computers event in Seville. In February Jakko composed a series of very complicated  pieces for Motorola's muti-million pound stand at Hannover's Ceebit show.

Meanwhile - Peter Blegvad's CD 'Choices Under Pressure', that Jakko produced at the tail end of last year, has been receiving rave reviews. Q magazine, The Guardian and he Independent to name a few. Read some here.

Dizrythmia - On the odd day off, Dizrythmia began recording brand new material and re-recording older pieces. These feature Gavin Harrison on drums, Dave Stewart on Grand Piano, Richard Barbieri on synth's and Danny Thompson on Double bass.

The new record by Japan's Halo 'Yellow' has also just been released and features some acoustic solo work by Jakko. 

Now - Having returned from a trip to India, Jakko is now locked away in the studio trying to finish the new Dizrythmia tracks. Jakko is also writing and recording music for Uri Geller (yes that Uri Geller). Uri contacted Jakko when he discovered that he used to be in a band called 64Spoons. 'We were fated to work together' says the recently married mystic.

Soon - In two weeks time Jakko recommences producing tracks for Sheila Nicholls forthcoming CD. As mentioned in the news section last year Sheila is a very talented and original singer/songwriter who left England for the States some 10 years ago and has a deal with Hollywood records (Disney's label) .

Future - Jakko is also preparing for an extraordinary series of gig's provisionally planned for later this year. More details once this project has been finalised and written in stone

News January  2001

A happy new year to one and all from all at Jakko.comNot much to report however this just in:

Jakko will be playing live at the 12 bar club in Denmark street in London's West End on Tuesday January the 9^th. This gig is to launch Peter Blegvad's new album 'Choices Under Pressure' which Jakko produced at the tail end of last year. Peter will be playing tracks from the album along with Jakko on guitar and vocals and John Greaves on Bass.

News November 2000

Firstly- Jakko's work schedule has been busier than ever these past few months, hence the lack of info on the news page. So what on earth has he been up too? Well following composing music for the Paris motor show and other events he's been stuck in his studio doing the following.

Producing - Jakko has been in the producers chair for two acts in the past few months. Firstly he has been producing tracks for Hollywood Records recording artist Sheila Nicholls. Sheila is a very talented English singer/songwriter now living in the U.S. She had a track on the 'Hi-Fidelity' soundtrack CD and recently opened for K.D. Lang in the UK. Jakko hopes to complete some more tracks for her second L.P to be released next year.

Jpeg Movies - Jakko can be seen giving stupid answers to sensible questions by clicking here. www.voiceprint.co.uk/intjakko.htm  Also available is some impromptu footage of  Jakko improvising over some guitar loops in the cramped confines of the Silesia sound control room recorded just a month or so ago. This can be found here www.voiceprint.co.uk/perfjakko.htm

Ha LO - Japanese Artist HaLo is in England recording a new album featuring Jakko on guitar.

Updates - The second part of Jakko's Level 42 recollections are now to be found on the Life Stories page. Photo's of the guitars in Jakkos collection that are currently being used can be found in the equipment section.

News August  2000

First and Foremost- Jakko had the sad and unpleasant task of attending the funeral of his friend John Lewin. John had been, amongst many things, editor and founding staff member of Making Music. Jakko fondly remembers miming to a Dave Stewart and Barbara Gaskin single on Belgium TV with John pretending to play guitar whilst Jakko played with a clock work Thomas the tank engine on top of his keyboards. You had to be there apparently.  Jakko's heart and sympathy go out to Johns wife Madeleine and his son Josh.

Still mixing - Jakko is still working with Bill Bruford at Silesia Sound having finished 6 tracks from Bill's forth coming live CD.

Mike Giles - Another ex-King Crimson drummer is still battling away with his solo Album. Jakko has been down in Bath recording guitars for the record which will be released …..err at some point.

Canterbury Box Set - Featuring Jakko's reworking of the Soft Machine classic 'As long as he lies perfectly still' should be available for purchase soon. All tracks mastered  and artwork finished.

Korg - Jakko's guitar Instrumental 'Kevin Costners Golf course' is now available on the CD stuck to the cover of Korg Magazine. You can obtain a copy free from most good music shops and many crap ones now. 

BBC - Jakko has been up at Broadcasting House discussing his new radio 3 commission. As yet untitled, it will deal with man's perception and will hopefully feature interview's with those who claim to have been abducted by aliens or had near Death experience's.
Jakko is planing to film this one and make the whole thing and audio visual experience. Which is all very well but it's not a proper job is it?

Dizrythmia - Just when it appeared that the mythical 2^nd album was all but dead and buried, Jakko and Gavin have been working on the tapes. Jakko says : 'Having found both time and a suitable way of working, we have decided that we will finish a mini album from the 5 tracks we have started at the very least.' However we say : 'Don't hold your breath.'

Sundries - Numerous other projects, as yet either unconfirmed or too strange to explain right now, continue to bubble away. Watch this space

Site Updates - There is a new addition to the life stories page. Part 1 of Jakko's recollections of life as a member of Level 42. There are some new reviews and additional pictures too.

And Finally - Just a brief word to those of you reading this in sunny Little Rock, Arkansas in the U S of A. Jakko wanted us to point out that, unlikely as it may seem, Scott Simpson really is Jakko's brother!

News May 00

An Apology - The secretary responsible for the last news update has been fired. Not only does it contain a number of spelling mistakes but it's tone was both overtly personal and indiscreet.

Up to his eyes - Rested and inspired by his Indian sabbatical the past month has been a very busy one for Jakko. He has composed and recorded music for a product launches for Compaq computers in New York and Astra Satellites in London.

Canterbury Box Set - He as also finished recording and mixing his version of the old Soft Machine song 'As long as he lies perfectly still' as mentioned in the last news bulletin. Final overdub sessions included a complex woodwind arrangement by Dave Stewart that featured the excellent Gary Barnacle on soprano and tenor sax, piccolo, concert flute, alto and Bass flutes. This will appear on BMG's Canterbury box set to be released later on this year. An extended version of this track will also appear on Jakko's next solo CD. 

Korg - Jakko has also just finished a track for Korg. In a piece that features just Jakko playing his Parker Fly Deluxe through Korg's AX1000 guitar FX processor. The end result, the intriguingly titled  'Kevin Costner's Golf Course', sounds like a whole band but its just guitars and a drum machine. The end result will be available on the free CD that come with Korg's 'The Magazine' promo publication. It will be available at most good music shops from the end of June.

Gigs - Voice print are planing a series of concerts at the South Banks Purcell rooms next spring. One will feature Jakko's first solo show in years to coincide with the release of his new album.

Mixing - Jakko has been mixing Bill Bruford's Earthworks forth coming Live CD at Silesia Sound. The recordings were made at Bill's concerts at Birdland in New York last year.

Rereleases - Still no news with regards to the re-release of 'Silesia' Jakko's first album from the early 80's. However 'The Kings Oblivions 'Big Fish Popcorn' has been delayed following a change of label. News of the release date next time hope fully.

New Stuff - There are two new stories available on the Life Stories page. One tells of Jakko's first brush with life as a professional actor and the other is the tale of  a dramatic rescue from a betting shop blaze. There is also a review of 'Kingdom of Dust' from the online music magazine 'Misfit City'.

News March 2000

APOLOGIES - Many apologies from all here at Jakko towers. Changes have been afoot and from now on the site will be updated regularly. Added to this the fact, It has been virtually impossible to get information out of Jakko during this past month, hence this belated site update. He has been ensconced in various corporate projects and fighting deadlines. So if you find you self at a major car show in Geneva  Check out the music that accompanies the Videos on the Toyota stand. The C-Bit show in Hanover will also feature Jakko's scores for Compaq and Cannon.

CANTERBURY COMPILATION - BMG are putting together a 3CD set compilation about the Canterbury scene. For those of you not in the know, or just too damn young, the music of Soft Machine, Caravan, Hatfield and the North and many others emanated from the Kent town of Canterbury. Due to his association with many musicians from this group Jakko will have a few tracks included in the set. Jakko will also be recording a brand new track for the CD that will also be appearing on hisforthcoming solo CD. It is a version of the Soft Machine classic from 1969's Soft Machine 2 LP and is the Robert Wyatt/Mike Ratledge composition 'As long as he Lies Perfectly Still.' This version will feature ex- Hatfields and National Health Keyboard whizz Dave Stewart. Ex- Egg and Groundhogs drummer Clive Brooks and the legendary Hugh Hopper from Soft Machine, who played on the original, Hugh Hopper.Jakko's last Radio 3 composition 

KINGS OF OBLIVION - The new extended version of a "Fish Popcorn" by the Kings of Oblivion is now at the pressing plant and will available on Bam Caruso records via Voiceprint very soon despite the fact that Jakko and Gavin continue to deny any involvement in this recording (it bloody well is them though!)

SILESIA - ."Silesia" is still not available but defiantly will be this year, Jakko say's the delay is his fault and apologies.The new Jakko solo record has also taken a back seat for the time being, but Jakko assures us that he will be straight into it along with some additional strange but true tales for the life stories section of this site as soon as he returns from his imminent trip to India. Jakko informs us that he is off to Goa to research sounds, music and absorbing the culture in an attempt to influence future projects. However this is just pretentious bullshit, he's just going on holiday. We know this because we booked the tickets. 

News  December 13, 1999

BBC  DOCUMENTARY IN JANUARY.

A new TV series about adoption entitled 'Find Me A  Family' begins on BBC 1 in
January 2000. The whole series opens with a special  programme on January 4th
which features various celebrity endorsements and a documentary about Jakko.
This was filmed in November and as well as interviews  with Jakko by Sally
Magnusson the program will also feature an interview  with Mark King, along
with the band playing at the soundcheck for Mark's Jazz  Café gig on November
23rd. The theme tune for the whole series, incidentally, is Level 42's
'Something About You.'

JAKKO  THANKS

Jakko  would like to thank all of you for showing such warmth and  support at
Mark King's recent shows. A number of questions,  queries, rumours, chinese
whispers and misheard conversations seem to have reared  there head as a
result and Jakko would like to the opportunity to settle  some of these
burning issues.

HAIR: 'I do NOT perm my hair. Indeed back in the early 80's I  was so pissed
off with having a hair style choice of either Kevin  Keegan or Shirley Temple,
that I had it permed straight. It lasted ten days before the  genetically
programed follicles kicked back in. In '92 I foolishly  decided to try Annie
McCaig 's straightening iron prior to the filming of the  'Guaranteed Live'
video. Which is why it looks kinda Jeff Beck-like at  the beginning of the
show and turns into Meg Richardson one sweat drenched  hour later.'

GEAR: 'I was using a Parker Fly guitar. Through a Line  6 300 watt stereo head
into a 2x12 cab. The Parker has an Acoustic guitar Piezo  pick in the bridge
and this was put through a Fender Acoustic  Combo.'

SEQUENCING: 'There was no more sequencing on this show than any other  Levels
show I've been involved with and, I am reliably informed, no  more than when
they started using them in the 80s.'

CROWD  SINGING: 'I'm amazed that anyone thought that I was actually pissed  off
during 'Leaving me now'. I admit that I attempted to  look pissed off from the
stage, but purely for comic effect. The joke did wear thin  somewhat by the
Friday, but I was not remotely annoyed. My acting skills  must be better than
I thought they were. Anyone claiming that I was brooding  about this post gig
has either misunderstood my sense of irony (easily done)' or  not realised
that after 18 years of Teetotal Abstinence, I now partake of  the odd après
gig sherbet (or 12).'

ANNIE  McCAIG: 'Contrary to the rumour Annie did NOT attend any of the  recent
shows. She told me it could have been Cindy Crawford as she  is often mistaken
for Annie. Young Miss McCaig has been busy putting together  her new Art
Shop/Gallery in Edinburgh. To be more precise:

The  Bonnie Blue Gallery, 9St Mary's Street, Edinburgh EH1 1TA Tel. 0131 557 8800.Do pop in if you are  passing as I know she would love to see you and your wallets  anytime.''Any other burning  issues or questions please leave them at the Guest Book
and I'll do my best to Illuminate. Happy Christmas'
JAKKO

THE CHURCH OF LANZA - Jakko's second commission for BBC Radio 3 was broadcast on March 6th. Using the same compositional technique as 'The Road To Ballina' This examines fame and it's a effect of the fans and subject alike. A limited edition CD of this work to be available soon.

SILESIA - Jakko's first album recorded back in 1980 and previously only ever released in Italy & Germany is to be available on CD for the first time in the next few months. As well as all the original tracks he has included alternate versions along side singles and B sides.

THE KINGS OF OBLIVION - Rumours persist that this group, a legend of the LA music scene of the late 60's, is in fact a hoax perpetrated by Jakko and his pal Gavin Harrison. Both continue to strenuously deny this. However those of you who are not convinced of their innocence may be interested to note that the album, 'Big Fish Popcorn', is about to be reissued on CD for the fist time. It will contain an additional 20 minutes of music that has either been discovered in the vaults or specially composed by Jakko depending on who you believe.

NEW JAKKO CD - Jakko is working on new material as we speak. New song based recordings as well as instrumental tracks, some of which are pieces from the abandoned 'Steam Circus' project with Gary Barnacle. At the time of writing Jakko is still unsure weather to release the works as two separate albums or squeeze them together as one.