Jules Faife

Born London, 1972.

Growing up in Leeds in the north of England and based in London since 1995, guitarist Jules Faife has developed a knowledge spanning styles as varied as Flamenco, African, Indian and Latin music as well as the more familiar Western styles of jazz and popular music.

Jules has been playing and writing with Zimbabwean singer/songwriter Netsayi since 2001. They’ve performed in London at venues such as Hammersmith Apollo and the Queen Elizabeth Hall, and have performed live on BBC Radios 1, 3 and 4. Highlights of 2007 include concerts in Johannesburg (Kippie’s), the Busara Festival in Zanzibar, Amsterdam’s Roots Festival and the Diaspora Festival, Dakar. They also supported South African star Hugh Masekela at the Corn Exchange in Cambridge, UK.

Jules also plays more traditional Southern African grooves with Harare, formed by two members of the legendary Zimbabwean group, the Bhundu Boys. In summer 2007, they headlined the Africa stage at London’s Rise Festival.

Collaborating with classical Indian musician Sulekh Ruparell, Jules’s most recent project is Nirakar. This innovative group is finding new ways of fusing the sounds of Indian ragas and jazz/ ambient music. Nirakar puts a lot of importance on freedom to improvise and subtle dynamics.

In recent years, Jules has developed a great interest in the beauty and passion of Flamenco. He has been recording and performing on guitar and bass with Iranian composer/guitarist Amir Akbari. Their band, El Aire, blends the Middle Eastern sounds of the oud and bouzouki with the rhythms and forms of flamenco.

Jules’ skills of arranging and writing have also recently come to prominence. In 2006 he arranged music for a live BBC radio performance, featuring new young R&B talent from the UK- Ras Kwame's Homegrown Sensations.

[http://www.julesfaife.com www.julesfaife.com]