WHO would have thought that the bassist in a right -on band like Public Image Ltd would one day have his musical projects backed by a capitalist International Festival For Business? But then who thought that his then band colleague, the crown prince of punk, John Lydon, would one day become the face of Anchor butter?
It's a funny old turn out for the book by a funny old turn: but one thing that perhaps hasn't "wobbled" the heads of the children of rock n roll so much is the evolving talent of that very bass man, Jah Wobble.
Now the Flowers of Romance have been scattered for something more exotic: Jasmine Flower Fusion marks Wobble's return to Chinatown and cements his ongoing commitment to Liverpool's Chinese community.
Six years ago, during European Capital of Culture year, his Chinese Dub commission enthralled audiences with its successful fusion of Eastern and Western music and dance.
Little did Mr W (aka, John Joseph Wardle), realise that this acorn project would continue to grow and thrive.
An inspired Pagoda Chinese Youth Orchestra, run by Mrs Wobble (aka Artistic Director of the Pagoda Arts Centre Zi Lan Liao), worked with him to create Jasmine Flower Fusion, "an unprecedented mix" of Chinese folk song and grime.
Little did Mr W (aka, John Joseph Wardle), realise that this acorn project would continue to grow and thrive, and he returns to witness the progress of the youth orchestra, leading the evening performance with award winning songs from Chinese Dub, Jasmine Flower and "something new to the young people", it says here - "reggae".
The IFB is funding Jasmine Flower Fusion but Liverpool’s Resonate Music Education Hub and the national Our Big Gig event are also involved.
A workshop, to be held at the Pagoda Arts Centre, takes place on July 12 from 2-3pm where people are invited to learn how to make Chinese music on Western instruments and try some of the Chinese instruments for themselves.
The evening performance, led by Jah Wobble, also at the Pagoda, begins at 7.30pm, where Wobble promises “a heady brew of East-West fusion as Chinese music gets the dub treatment”.
Zi Lan Liao added: “Everyone at Pagoda Arts is very excited about this project and looking forward to bringing the orchestra into a new musical phase.”
*Jah Wobble Presents, Jasmine Flower Fusion, Saturday July 12, Pagoda Arts Centre, Henry Street, Liverpool, L1 5BU. Tickets for the workshop and the performance are £10 each. admittance to both events costs £15. Tickets here
Jah Wobble tells us all about his top five box DVD crime thrillers here
