LEEE JOHN INTERVIEW
Onlangs was ik te gast op de discoavond ter ere van het vijfendertigjarig bestaan van de winkelketen Heytens, voor binnenhuisinrichting en decoratie. Die avond ging door in onze nationale rocktempel Vorst Nationaal, die voor deze keer omgetoverd was in een reusachtige discotheek. De opwarming gebeurde door DJ Lino samen met de dansgroep Future Dance. Daarna was het de beurt aan de Britse covergroep Discodrome, die voor en tussen de verschillende acts optrad. Als discoacts waren Plastic Bertrand (bah!), Leee John van de groep Imagination, de Gibson Brothers en Boney M. geprogrammeerd. Maar het hoogtepunt die avond was voor mij zonder twijfel het interview met Leee John.
Na enkele problemen met de security guards had ik toch toegang tot de kleedkamer van Leee, in de buik van Vorst Nationaal. Hij was net aan het eten, maar dat stoorde hem in het geheel niet.
It looks to me that you never went away, because during your performance earlier, you sang ‘Body Talk’, the single that started it all for Imagination back in 1981, and later on you sang ‘Sensuality’, your new single. ‘Body Talk’ to me has always been very sensual, so the circle is round again with ‘Sensuality’.
‘Sensuality’ is the single from my latest jazz album ‘Feel My Soul’, but got several remixes by DJ’s.
Of course I reviewed it for www.smoothjazz.eu .
You did a great job!
Your performance here this evening was fantastic. I saw you live last year during the Proximus disco night in Antwerp. The public still knows and likes your songs like ‘Just an Illusion’, ‘Music and Lights’, ‘Flashback’ etc.. Was the change from disco to jazz difficult for you?
Imagination wasn’t actually a disco act. Our music was more down tempo, we were part of the Britfunk movement. In 1998 I got the idea of singing jazz, but I doubted for a long time that my voice wasn’t ready to sing it.
The Britfunk movement, yeah, with a group like Shakatak.
They came after us. Did you know that I sang on one of their albums?
Yeah, I have it. I can’t remember one which one. On the EP ‘Sensuality’ there were several remixes by DJ’s of the original smooth jazz version. Did you went in search of them, or did they came to you?
They came to me. In the beginning I wasn’t too hot for it, but gradually they convinced me to do it. In the dance versions, the song is more oriented towards the dance clubs.
I adore the song ‘Now Is The Time’ from your latest album. That is a beautiful ballad.
Yeah. The French version is ‘C’estLe Moment’. I simply adore ballads.
Me too. The video is very nice too. For instance like the music by Roberta Flack, which is playing here in your dressing room.
It helps me to unwind after the performance.
At the moment I’m busy writing an article about the old Stylistics hit ‘Stop, Look, Listen To Your Heart’. Any thoughts on that one?
I love the old Stylistics songs. That one was co written by Linda Creed, who died of breast cancer.
I know, I did my research. What do you think about the discussion on the Internet, that smooth jazz isn’t considered as jazz anymore, but as instrumental pop?
I didn’t know that. When Norah Jones her first album came out, she transcended barriers. She made jazz more accessible to the public. Smooth jazz does the same thing, like Dave Koz for instance. Like Eric Clapton did way back with ‘I Shot The Sheriff’.
Yeah, along with others like Kenny G, George Benson, Michael Lington, Richard Elliott etc. Did you know that a lot of those old soul ballads were covered and converted into smooth jazz?
Yeah, I heard some.
What are you new projects?
I’m actually preparing two albums. The first one is a Imagination album, with new versions of the songs, collaborations with other artists, and Jamiroquai will produce it. The second one is a personal album. I’m writing songs, one in the style of Gilberto Gill, Brazilian music, one in the style of the orchestrations by Barry White and Isaac Hayes, and I have written a song called ‘Utopia’. I think the album will be called ‘Utopia’.
I can’t wait to hear them. Thank you so much for your time. It’s an honour for me to meet after all these years. I’ve been a fan ever since ‘Body Talk’ and saw you here in this hall live during the eighties.
You’re welcome, Patrick, and keep in touch.
Meer info:
www.leeejohn.com
www.feelmysoul.co.uk
www.sensualitylj.com
www.myspace.com/leeejohn
Patrick Van de Wiele
Na enkele problemen met de security guards had ik toch toegang tot de kleedkamer van Leee, in de buik van Vorst Nationaal. Hij was net aan het eten, maar dat stoorde hem in het geheel niet.
It looks to me that you never went away, because during your performance earlier, you sang ‘Body Talk’, the single that started it all for Imagination back in 1981, and later on you sang ‘Sensuality’, your new single. ‘Body Talk’ to me has always been very sensual, so the circle is round again with ‘Sensuality’.
‘Sensuality’ is the single from my latest jazz album ‘Feel My Soul’, but got several remixes by DJ’s.
Of course I reviewed it for www.smoothjazz.eu .
You did a great job!
Your performance here this evening was fantastic. I saw you live last year during the Proximus disco night in Antwerp. The public still knows and likes your songs like ‘Just an Illusion’, ‘Music and Lights’, ‘Flashback’ etc.. Was the change from disco to jazz difficult for you?
Imagination wasn’t actually a disco act. Our music was more down tempo, we were part of the Britfunk movement. In 1998 I got the idea of singing jazz, but I doubted for a long time that my voice wasn’t ready to sing it.
The Britfunk movement, yeah, with a group like Shakatak.
They came after us. Did you know that I sang on one of their albums?
Yeah, I have it. I can’t remember one which one. On the EP ‘Sensuality’ there were several remixes by DJ’s of the original smooth jazz version. Did you went in search of them, or did they came to you?
They came to me. In the beginning I wasn’t too hot for it, but gradually they convinced me to do it. In the dance versions, the song is more oriented towards the dance clubs.
I adore the song ‘Now Is The Time’ from your latest album. That is a beautiful ballad.
Yeah. The French version is ‘C’estLe Moment’. I simply adore ballads.
Me too. The video is very nice too. For instance like the music by Roberta Flack, which is playing here in your dressing room.
It helps me to unwind after the performance.
At the moment I’m busy writing an article about the old Stylistics hit ‘Stop, Look, Listen To Your Heart’. Any thoughts on that one?
I love the old Stylistics songs. That one was co written by Linda Creed, who died of breast cancer.
I know, I did my research. What do you think about the discussion on the Internet, that smooth jazz isn’t considered as jazz anymore, but as instrumental pop?
I didn’t know that. When Norah Jones her first album came out, she transcended barriers. She made jazz more accessible to the public. Smooth jazz does the same thing, like Dave Koz for instance. Like Eric Clapton did way back with ‘I Shot The Sheriff’.
Yeah, along with others like Kenny G, George Benson, Michael Lington, Richard Elliott etc. Did you know that a lot of those old soul ballads were covered and converted into smooth jazz?
Yeah, I heard some.
What are you new projects?
I’m actually preparing two albums. The first one is a Imagination album, with new versions of the songs, collaborations with other artists, and Jamiroquai will produce it. The second one is a personal album. I’m writing songs, one in the style of Gilberto Gill, Brazilian music, one in the style of the orchestrations by Barry White and Isaac Hayes, and I have written a song called ‘Utopia’. I think the album will be called ‘Utopia’.
I can’t wait to hear them. Thank you so much for your time. It’s an honour for me to meet after all these years. I’ve been a fan ever since ‘Body Talk’ and saw you here in this hall live during the eighties.
You’re welcome, Patrick, and keep in touch.
Meer info:
www.leeejohn.com
www.feelmysoul.co.uk
www.sensualitylj.com
www.myspace.com/leeejohn
Patrick Van de Wiele
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