Neil Sparkes is a visual artist, musician and poet whose work resonates through both artistic and popular cultural worlds.
Sparkes is widely known as vocalist and percussionist with indie world beat dance group TransGlobal Underground with whom he toured the World from 1992 to 1996 and world fusion pioneers Temple of Sound.
Sparkes has performed on international stages across the globe for many years on the frontline of world music dance and dub. His passion for Jazz has been at the core of his many collaborations notably with UK saxophone legend Dick Heckstall-Smith.
As a musician and producer Neil Sparkes has worked with Peter Gabriel, Los De Abajo, Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali (nephews ofNusrat Fateh Ali Khan), Jah Wobble, Natacha Atlas, Adrian Sherwood, Hossam Ramzy and Linton Kwesi Johnson among many others.
Sparkes’ poetry is published by Billy Childish’s Hangman Books with a new collection Drums In The Rain (2006).
“The Rhythms Inside My Head” includes visionary watercolors created in Mexico City; Afro-Cuban inspired imagery and Studies for a series of artworks commissioned by Jah Wobble. Masks faces of friends, musicians and musical motifs populate his visual world alongside pictures inspired by life on the coast in South East Kent. His pictures are personal and iconic rhythmic and infused with a love of color and texture.
Sparkes’ work draws from world cultures he has lived and worked with researched and experienced.
His visual art practice interacts and influences his music and text and show a complete vision for his energy and combine new images ideas and visual invention continuously in his work.
Discography:
Burning Mask (Interchill, 1999)
Black Orchid (Schtumm, 1998)
People’s Colony No. 1 (Real World Records, 2001)
First Edition (Wagram, 2002)
Shout at the Devil (30 Hertz Records, 2002)
Gold of the Sun – Live (Diesel Motor Records, 2004)
Globalhead (Namaste Records/Koch Records, 2007)
Big Blue Ball (Real World/ Ryko Disc, 2008)
Dread Time Story (Acrobat/ Warlock 2008)
Afro Melt (Nascente, 2002) Compilation by Neil Sparkes
Achtung Salaam! – EP (2 KOOL, 1996)
Friday Night Shango – EP (2 KOOL, 1997)
Peter Gabriel: Burn You Up, Burn You Down – Single (Real World) 2003
Peter Gabriel: Hit (Real World/ Geffen) 2003
Los De Abajo: LDA V. The Lunatics (Real World) 2005 (Producer/Musician)
Natacha Atlas: The Best of Natacha Atlas
Natacha Atlas: Mish Maoul(Beggars Banquet) 2006 (Producer/Musician/Co-writer)
Batucada Sound Machine: Rhythm and Rhyme (Borders Music) 2007 (Producer)
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.