First up last night was a visit to Dingwalls in Camden Lock to catch David Stark and company for the SongLink ‘Xmas Xtravaganza’, featuring The Trembling Wilburys supported by Susan Black. Good to meet Glen ‘George Harrison’ Knowler, composer Mark Fishlock and the CEO of Independent Music Group, Ellis Rich. A swift walk down the High Street to the Jazz Cafe at ten o’clock meant arriving just in time to see a marvellous set by the Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter and R&B icon, Dwele. Having grown up in Detroit, Dwele was immersed in soul music and jazz from an early age and began writing songs at the age of ten. Signed to Virgin on the strength of his songwriting and performance skills, Dwele released ‘Subject’ in mid-2003 and his second album, ‘Some Kinda…’, followed in 2005 and reached the Top 10 of the R&B chart. A couple years later, he provided the hook on Kanye West’s hit single ‘Flashing Lights’ and signed to Koch/eOne to release ‘Sketches of a Man’ (2008) and ‘W.ants W.orld W.omen’ (2010). His latest album. ‘Greater Than One’ released in 2012 has proved equally popular and he was certainly a hit with the packed and appreciative crowd in the Cafe. A pleasure to meet the support act Alyusha too and to hear about her current work on a debut EP, due out early next year.
