John Lawton Jan Dumee Xande Figueiredo Marvio Ciribelli Ney Conceicao lawton,dumee,uriah,heep,focus,brazil,nl,rock,hardrock, free,me,lady,in,black,dunning,band,rockbandlawton,dumee,uriah,heep,focus,brazil,nl,rock,hardrock,free,me, lady,in,black,dunning,band,rockbandlawton,dumee,uriah,heep,focus,brazil,nl,rock,hardrock,free,me,lady,in, black,dunning,band,rockbandlawton,dumee,uriah,heep,focus,brazil,nl,rock,hardrock,free,me,lady,in,black,dunning, band,rockbandlawton,dumee,uriah,heep,focus,brazil,nl,rock,hardrock,free,me,lady,in,black,dunning,band,rockbandlawton, dumee,uriah,heep,focus,brazil,nl,rock,hardrock,free,me,lady,in,black,dunning,band,rockbandlawton,dumee,uriah,heep,focus, brazil,nl,rock,hardrock,free,me,lady,in,black,dunning,band,rockbandlawton,dumee,uriah,heep,focus,brazil,nl,rock,hardrock, free,me,lady,in,black,dunning,band,rockbandlawton,dumee,uriah,heep,focus,brazil,nl,rock,hardrock, free,me,lady,in,black, dunning,band,rockbandlawton,dumee,uriah,heep,focus,brazil,nl,rock,hardrock,free,me,lady,in,black, dunning,band,rockbandlawton, dumee,uriah,heep,focus,brazil,nl,rock,hardrock,free,me,lady,in,black,dunning,band,rockbandlawton,dumee, uriah,heep,focus,brazil,nl,rock,hardrock,free,me,lady,in,black,dunning,band,rockbandlawton,dumee,uriah,heep, environment having had the chance to listen all kinds of music. From the exciting sounds of Led Zeppelin, the orchestral sounds of Rachmaninoff, the jazz solos of Wes Montgomery, the universal Brazilian sounds of Hermeto Pascoal and so on...., it all became a consistent part in his musical education and taste. Jan’s strength in music is being able to play and compose several music styles such as jazz, rock, fusion, worldmusic, classic, music for film etc. Although in the old times he liked to think of himself more as a composer, he graduated in guitar at the well-known Rotterdam Conservatory in the Netherlands. Futhermore Jan uses to play piano, organ, drums, bass and percussion. Nowadays Jan is recognized as a very versatile guitarplayer and composer with an own signature. The music of Jan Dumee is described in the reviews as 'very creative', 'non-conformist in approach', 'ear-tickling' and 'knowing no bounds'. In the years he developed a particular attention for Brazilian music which started as a kid when he was listening to Joao Gilberto and Antonio Carlos Jobim every Sunday on the Dutch radio. Later, at the age of 21, he started to frequent a Brazilian bar in Amsterdam where he participated in jam sessions with musicians from Brazil and Argentina. At first inspired by Carioca choro group ‘No em Pingo D’Agua’, since 1991 Jan Dumée has regularly paid visits to Brazil to do what is called 'fieldwork' there, researching folklore and popular music. With his ensemble O Septeto, a mix of Brazilian and Dutch musicians he shows his very selfwilling compositions based in Brazilian music blended with other styles such as jazz, African-, classic-, and Indian- music. The CD ‘Rodinha’ recorded with this group and guests was recognized in 1998 as one of the best worldmusic CD's by the press, the foundation Conamus and Radio Holland. Jan developed playing Brazilian percussion (from “repenique” to the little triangle), which helped him become a versatile composer in different Brazilian music styles. In 1999 he became musical director of the ‘Dutch’ (with mostly Brazilians) samba school ‘Casa-Holanda-Brasil’. For this special occasion he composed the samba (samba-enredo) ‘Vento no asfalto’ with lyrics by William Keursten. Jan became internationally known due to his job as guitarist of Holland’s most foremost rock-group of all times: Focus. Since a boy of fifteen years old he visited often the house of Focus' founder Thijs van Leer (flute, hammond, piano, voice) . The music of van Leer and Focus (and with them the ‘Dutch School’ of the seventies Rogier van Otterloo and the masterfully phrasing of melodies: Jan Akkerman) became a part of his musical inspiration and formation. In 1994 Thijs van Leer asked Dumee to participate in his world music project ‘van Leer Conxi’, a group with great percussion-players and a singer from Senegal.This music can be described as a kind of 'Focus' music with African grooves.Later on Jan became Focus' guitarplayer and co-composer since the end of 2001 until april 2006. He recorded with Focus the albums: ' Focus 8' , 'Live in South America' and dvd/cd 'Live in America'. Nowadays Dumee is leading together with ex-Uriah-Heep/Lucifers friend John Lawton a new international rockband OTR (together with Xande Figueiredo, Marvio Ciribelli, Ney Conceicao "all from Rio de Janeiro") preparing its first Cd (Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, London) and a live Dvd to be recorded in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Furthermore Jan has his own sideprojects such as 'The Cubrabop Quintet', 'Rio on the Rocks' and the 'Jan Dumee Group' (with the some of the finest mucians from Rio de Janeiro: Marcio Bahia, Paulo Russo, Mario Seve, Kiko Continentino) and is participating in several other projects/groups. Jan’s favorite music: Johann Sebastian Bach, Debussy, Ravel, Bela Bartók, Rachmaninov, Chopin, Heitor Villa-Lobos, Thijs van Leer, Focus, Wes Montgommery, George Benson (the guitarist), Jan Akkerman, Jimmy Page, Led Zeppelin, Jimmy Hendrix, Antonio Carlos Jobim, James Brown, Chico Buarque de Holanda, João Bosco, Edu Lobo, Hermeto Pascoal & Grupo, Rogier van Otterloo, Djavan, Claus Ogerman, Weather Report, No Em Pingo D’agua, Guinga, Cesar Camargo Mariano, Elis Regina, Earth, Wind & Fire, Toninho Horta, Clare Fischer, Herbie Hancock, Paco de Lucia, Stevie Wonder, Toon Roos, Toots Thielemans, Irakere, Motown, Paulo Moura, Carlos Malta, John Scofield, Philadelphia Sound, Ohio Players, Egberto Gismonti, Milton Nascimento, etnic-music from all over the world, Tower of Power, Mother’s Finest, John McLaughlin, Pixinguinha, Cartola, Noel Rosa, Alceu Valença, Dori Caymmi, The Beatles, The Stones, Aerosmith. Favourite school of Samba: Mocidade de Padre Miguel & Mangueira. John Lawton.....vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica Starting out in Germany with the Les Humphries Singers, in the early '70s, (which included the Eurovision Song Contest in '75) the ex - Uriah Heep front man and vocalist with the legendary German rock cult band Lucifer's Friend ( '69-'76 & '79 -'95) with whom he recorded 9 studio albums, has built a reputation on his powerful vocals and charismatic personality and is regarded as one of the best "white" bluesy singers in the world. In '76 John joins Uriah Heep as their frontman, recording the albums : "Innocent Victim", "Firefly", "Fallen Angel" and "Live '79" touring Europe and the USA until Sept. '79. John has worked with some big names of rock, on various projects, including Roger Glover's "Butterfly Ball" live in the Royal Albert Hall in '75, with David Coverdale, Glenn Hughes, Ian Gillan and Twiggy. Later on Eddy Hardin's "Wizard's Convention ll" with Chris Farlowe, Dennie Lane, Paul Jones and Tony Ashton. He has also worked with some of the finest record producers, including Tony Clarke (Moody Blues) Jimmy Miller (Rolling Stones) Harold Faltermayer (Pet Shop Boys), who produced the titles John sang on the Lenny McDowell Project "Lost Paradise" Lawton sang with German rockband "Rebel" later known as "Zar" on three albums,during the late '80's/'90s including their hit singles "Line of Fire" & "Eagles Flight", moving onto Volker Barber's classical project "Excalibur" John formed GunHill, now known as John Lawton Band, in Jan. of '94. touring the Uk and Europe... In '95 he briefly re-joined Uriah Heep, for 2 weeks, to tour South Africa with Deep Purple,filling in for their singer Bernie, who was suffering from voice problems at the time. John also sang on several German commercials, including the "Colgate Gel" TV spots, the "Peter Stuyvesant Travel" spots, the Stuyvesant single "Come Together" and a stint for Harley Davidson Motorbikes. Inspired by German top producer Robert Papst and his partner Reinhold Hoffman, John re-recorded one of the Les Humphries Singer's favourites, the big '70 s hit "Mama Loo", in January '98. In August , 2000, his solo CD "Still Paying My Dues.." produced by Robert Papst, is released in Europe , UK and Scandinavia, by "Hypertension Music" Hamburg and distributed through "EDEL" Germany. This album has been hailed as the "best work" John has ever done....... In May 2001 he teams up with Ken Hensley to form the Hensley Lawton Band. After extensive touring, during spring and summer of 2001 , both Ken and John return to their respective "solo" careers. .. more about the Hensley Lawton Band hensleylawton.com The John Lawton Band "JLB" is taken on by Classick Rock Productions in 2001 and record the accoustic CD "Steppin it up " which features John & Steve. "One More Night" Live at the Mean Fiddler ,CD & DVD, is recorded in 2002 ,which is followed in 2003 by JLB's "Sting In The Tale" CD, an original studio rockalbum. Later followes another Live CD & DVD "Shakin' The Tale".. JLB have been touring frequently with their last gig in Hamburg , Sept 2004 ,when John decided to take an indefinite break ! For more detailed info on : John Lawton, Lucifer's Friend, Zar, Les Humphries Singers and other "Lawton related stuff ": Official John Lawton Homepage