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TAPANDA RE   1984-1987 

Tapanda Re

Tapanda Re – Greek for “everything is in a state of flux” – was a London-based, post-punk/indie rock band. It was formed by Nina Rapi (bass guitar, vocals, songwriting) & Pauline Channing (guitar, vocals, songwriting). The two lived in Observatory Gardens, Notting Hill Gate in a huge but rundown flat, which hosted many late night jammings by musicians such as Josha Patter (Berlin), Kate (Ruth Novaczeck) from Abandon your Tutu, Debbie Smith, ace bass player Viba Robinson (Copenhagen) who also lived there, and her friends Demelsa (Cornwall), Lindsay Cooper, Maggie Nicols, Corine Liensol, Josefina Cupido, amongst others.

Listen to Tapanda Re on the Soundcloud site: https://soundcloud.com/nina-r-19

Nina Rapi, black and white photo, in black leather jacket looking serious.

Nina Rapi, 1984

Black and white photo: pauline Channing in black t-shirt, Nina Rapi in vest and cap, looking serious, holding hands in front of their chests.

Tapanda Re, 1984. Pauline Channing, Nina Rapi. Photo copyright Sally O-J

Nina in a black and white photo, wearing vest and black cap, both hands raised in a salute-like pose.

Tapanda Re, 1984, Nina Rapi

Tapanda Re’s first drummer was Sally O-J with whom they recorded a demo of 4 songs in 1984: Let Me Out of Here (Channing), Zarusa (Rapi), Sick of Feeling Down (Rapi), Hello There (Channing).

Sally Orson Jones also co-wrote the song Choose.

Pauline Channing in black tee shirt, hand behind head, looking thoughtful.

Pauline Channing. Photo copyright Sally O-J

Their first gig was in January 1984 at The Bell, Kings Cross, London. Members of The Raincoats, the Au Pairs and the Slits were in the audience. A number of other gigs followed: at Dingwall’s, Jubilee Gardens, The Bell (Lesbians Benefit for the Miners: also playing were Gymslips, Dianne, Strange Language), Lesbian and Gay Centre, Pindar of Wakefield.

Teresa Cornell, live

Teresa Cornell on drums

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Pauline Channing, live

Black and white poster advertising gig at pub in Grays Inn Road London

Poster for Tapanda Re gig at Pindar of Wakefield

Pauline playing electric guitar

Pauline Channing. Photo copyright Sally O-J

They recorded another 4 songs in 1985: Save my Life (Channing), Wanting to Be Her (Rapi), Soray (Rapi, Channing), Orders of the Day (Rapi, Channing).

Pauline and Nina dancing, both wearing black, Nina in trademark cap

Pauline Channing and Nina Rapi photo c. Sally O-J

Sally O-J at Observatory Gardens

Sally O-J at Observatory Gardens

Sally O-J left for other ventures and Teresa Cornell took over. (Teresa was also playing with Mouth Almighty at the time.)

The three women of Tapanda Re posed on a staircase.

Tapanda Re 1986, Teresa Cornell, Pauline Channing, Nina Rapi. Copyright Shirley O’Laughlin

Nina Rapi, dressed in black, against a white background, with a black rabbit behind her.

Tapanda Re 1986, Nina Rapi, copyright Shirley O’Loughlin

Tapanda Re recorded two more songs in 1986: Primal Bond (Rapi) & Come With Me (Channing), with Teresa Cornell on drums this time.

The three also performed at: Chats Palace (also playing Pearl Divers), Martina’s, the London Lesbian and Gay Centre, The Fridge, Brixton (Eve’s Revenge: also playing Gail Force).

Flyer for gigs at Chats Palace and the Rock Garden, London, illustrate by black and white photos of the three women in Tapanda Re.

Flyer for gigs at Chats Palace and the Rock Garden

A poster for a Lesbian Benefit for the Miners at the Bell pub, Kings Cross London. Also playing The Gymslips, Strange Language, the Sleeze Sisters DJs.

Poster for Lesbian Benefit for the Miners

Striped poster for gig at Eve's Revenge, with Tapanda Re and Gail Force.

Poster for Tapanda Re gig at Eve’s Revenge, Europe’s biggest women only club, at the Fridge, Brixton.

Poster for Martyina's club at VauxhallTavern, South London. Three women dressed in black and white, women only gig, £1.50/1.00. Also illustrated with a black triangle.

Poster for Tapanda Re gig at Martina’s, at Vauxhall’s Market Tavern.

The band played their last gig at Rock Garden, February 1987.

The three band members, dressed in black and white shirts and braces, dark sunglasses, with a large black triangle above them, advertising a gig at the Rock Garden.

Poster for Tapanda Re at the Rock Garden, Covent Garden.

Rock Garden 1987, last gig

Tapanda Re at their last gig, the Rock Garden, London 1987

Three different women took on ‘management’ roles in the band at various stages: Jackie ?, Mandy Honeyman, Vic Acious.

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Terri Quaye 

Jazz singer, pianist, songwriter, ethnographic photographer

As well as Terri Quaye’s professional website http://www.jazzcocktail.com/ you can view her photo website www.globalpictorials.co.uk

Terri Quaye on stage playing conga drums and singing.

Jazz Forum Jazz Festival, Warsaw, Poland, 1972. Photo copyright Marian Sanecki

Terri Quaye playing conga drums on stage with three musicians on sax, drums and guitar.

John Steven’s ‘Amalgam’, London 1974. Photo copyright Terri Quaye.

Terri Quaye and a pupil in profile with hands over a conga drum, other pupils in background.

Drumming workshops, Women’s Arts Alliance, 1976. Photo copyright Terri Quaye

Terri Quaye playing congas, with bass player and keyboards on stage.

Terri Quaye’s ‘Moonspirit’ at the 100 Club, London, 1977.

Review of Moonspirit performance at London's 100 Club, 1977. Terri Quaye on congas, Gill Lyons on bass, Val Fenton on keyboards: 'the range of sounds was quite staggering.' 'Just about the only all-women experimental jazz band around.'

Melody Maker review of ‘Zila’ and ‘Moonspirit’ at London’s 100 Club, 1977. Copyright Maureen Paton

Terri Quaye in DJ mode at her Cauldron Women's Disco, working turntables, a hand-painted poster advertising the Boxing Night event and raffle on the wall behind.

Terri Quaye’s ‘Cauldron Women’s Disco’, the Sol’s Arms, London, 1978. Photo copyright Terri Quaye

Terri Quaye playing a solo concert on conga drums, hands blurred with speed.

Terri Quaye in solo concert at London’s Africa Centre, 1981. Photo copyright Terri Quaye

Review of Terri Quaye's gig praises her 'Sounds of africa' performance and cassette recording for originality and presentation, her desire to keep her West African and Caribbean roots alive, use of African talking drums and remarkable singing voice.

Review of Terri Quaye at the Africa Centre from Ms London, 1981

Advertising the International Festival of Improvised Music, Movement and Voice held in 1981 at the Cockpit Theater, north London, featuring many artists including Terri Quaye.

Flyer for the MuVoMo Festival, London 1981

An ad for Terri Quaye's farewell gig at Africa Centre, March 31st 1982. Solo concert: 'The Sounds of Africa

Spare Rib issue 117, 1982 (N.B. correct title is ‘Sounds of Africa’)

Terri Quaye performing solo in farewell concert at Africa Center 1982, playing balathon, an African instrument akin to axylophone.

Terri Quaye in solo concert, The Africa Centre, 1982. Photograph copyright Anna Kolpy

Caribbean Times review of Terri Quaye's 1982 farewell concert at the Africa Center, by Lyn Yelverton, praises Terri's performance of drumming as 'magic' with hugely affectionate audience reception. Accompanying photo shows Terri playing talking drum, held under one arm, and congas are also on stage.

Caribbean Times review of Terri Quaye’s 1982 farewell concert at the Africa Center, by Lyn Yelverton

Flyer for Black History Month celebration at National Museum of African Art, Washington DC, USA, 1983. Dedicated to the memory of Frederick Douglas, 1818 - 1895, who lived in the building now housing the museum.

Flyer for Black History Month celebration at National Museum of African Art, Washington DC, USA, 1983

Flyer for Black History Month celebration at National Museum of African Art, Washington DC, USA, 1983. List of events says 'Naakoshie Quaye 'of Ghanian descent ... one of few female percussionists of international reputation.'

Flyer for Black History Month Celebration in honour of Frederick Douglas, February 1983, National Museum of African Art, Washington DC, USA

Terry Quaye and several African-American drummers playing congas in Washington Square, New York. Other people in background playing hand percussion.

Street Drum Down, Washington Square, New York, 1983

Programme for the Studio Museum in Harlem illustrated with photos of a acrved mask for Central Africa and Terri Quaye playing congas drums. Details 'Ghanaian drummer Terri Naakoshie Quaye demonstrates mastery of Ashanati and talking drums, the balaphon (original xylophone) and the sensa (thumb piano.)'

The Studio Museum in Harlem program, October – December, 1983

Review for 'Sounds of Africa' concert: photo of Terri Quaye on congas. ' Terri Naakoshie Quaye will blend traditional African rhythms and contemporary jazz styles.'

Review from Rotunda, American Museum of Natural History, September 1983

Terri Quaye and a young woman student playing conga drums in a workshop for disability charity Scope, 1983

Workshop with the charity ‘Scope’, 1984

A review of the play Patterns by 'multi-racial Changing Women Theatre' company at London's Drill Hall with photo of two cast members on stage: 'atmospheric music contributed much to the production ... skilful use of African pecussion by Terri Quaye and the powerful singing voice of Maggie Nicols.''

Review from The Stage of Patterns, November 1984

Program for The Return of The Kitchen Sisters: Visions of Healing, Texas, USA, 1985, shows nine cast members posing inc Terri Quaye, special guest musician.

Program for The Return of The Kitchen Sisters, Texas, USA, 1985

Review of the play, The Return of The Kitchen Sisters, in Texas, 1985, giving special mention to Terri Naakoshie Quaye, guest musician. Her 'strong serene voice' 'like a benediction.'

Review of The Return of The Kitchen Sisters, from The Picayune, Austin, Texas, USA, 1985, by Anne Morris

Advertising Terri Quaye's 1986 tour of New Zealand, with a photo of Terri playing piano and singing.

Flyer for Sounds of Africa tour, New Zealand, 1986

Dates and venues of Terri Quaye's 1986 tour of New Zealand, with a photo of Terri playing conga drums.

Flyer for Sounds of Africa tour of New Zealand, 1986

Terry Quaye playing balafon, African xylophone, outdoors with other musicians in Zimbabwe.

Terri Quaye playing balafon in Zimbabwe

Terri playing conga drums with other musicians, outdoors in Zimbabwe.

Terri Quaye drumming in Zimbabwe

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The Touch 1982 ~ 87

Original line-up: George (Georgette) Okey, vocals, guitar, backing vocals; Luce (Lucinda) Cook, vocals, bass, backing vocals; Sally Beautista, vocals, guitar, backing vocals (about a year); Scottie Swankee, vocals, drums, backing vocals. Second line-up: Carole Nelson, synth, sax (about 6 months ’83-ish); George (Georgette) Okey, vocals, guitar, backing vocals; Luce (Lucinda) Cook, vocals, bass, backing vocals; Scottie Swankee, vocals, drums, backing vocals. Third line-up (from about 1984): George (Georgette) Okey, vocals, guitar, backing vocals; Gill Moon, drums, percussion, backing vocals; Luce (Lucinda) Cook, vocals, bass, backing vocals. Sound engineer and roadie, Aviva Anson

The Touch was a London-based band that played many gigs around the country in the 1980s and toured Holland and Germany. As a three piece line-up they successfully applied for a GLC capital grant, enabling the group to earn some money rather than all their payments going on PA and van hire. They also ran a PA company, providing affordable sound reinforcement for many small community festivals. After their amicable split, they passed on their PA equipment and van to Hackney Women’s Music Project, based in the basement of Dalston’s Rio cinema; their hope was that other women’s and specifically Black women’s music projects would benefit in the future.

The four women in a black and white photo in a children's playground, smiling and seated on a bench, talking to one another.

Carole, Scottie, Lucinda, Georgette

A black and white publicity shot. The three women pose dramatically against a backdrop of shining water, the River Thames.

Gill, Lucinda, Georgette

A collage of Touch memorabilia. A Time Out review by Lucy O'Brien says 'the Hackney based band of women originating in bands as diverse as PMT and Pyramid Zone ... should escape the

A casual shot of Aviva on the road, in a car, smiling and drinking Coke

Aviva Anson, on tour in Holland

A colour photo of Georgette Okey on stage, playing her acoustic guitar in a marquee, with bright red lighting, daytime sky just visible through the tent door in the background..

Georgette at Pilton Women’s Festival

Georgette is seated, playing acoustic guitar and singing, many amplifiers around, in a tent with bright red lighting.

Georgette at Pilton Women’s Festival

The Touch photos courtesy of Georgette Okey; photos of The Touch line ups by Louise Wadley

Georgette has gone on to become a film-maker; en route she continued playing session guitar into the 1990s, working with vocalists Sheila Smith (supporting The Communards), David McAlmont and Yazz. In 1992 she was one of only two women guitarists invited by Rock School and Trinity College to compose contemporary graded exams for drums bass and guitar.

Stylised cover in black, red and white, of the exam course composed by Georgette. A drawing of drum kit and guitar illustrate the cover which reads 'Rock School. Graded solo examinations in rock, jazz and pop. Published by Faber Music.'After ceasing touring she became a recording artist and briefly worked with Yasuaki Shimizu for John Hades’ Future Perfect Management; recordings of the period remain unreleased. Throughout the 90s she worked as an independent sound engineer and record producer (she was the record and mix engineer for the award winning song ‘Eye On The Prize’ by Fola, MOBO Best Newcomer Award 1997),  she designed and taught sound engineering courses at a number of universities, colleges and art organisations, gained an MSc, designed, built and operated her independent production studio Rubyfruits in Stratford, east London (The London Olympics necessitated a relocation to north London). Working under the name G.O Georgette continues to occasionally compose, engineer and produce music for herself and other independent artists. She can also be found creating sound design and audio dubs for film.

A black and white publicity shot of Georgette, wearing dark glasses and holding an electric guitar, looking serious.

Georgette Okey, circa 1989, photo David ?

As a director her first short film, ‘Ginger Gora and the Gentles’ (Rubyfruits, 2006) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1860237/ , a lesbian comedy, premiered at The East End Film Festival 2006  with a screening at the Genesis Cinema. It was also selected by Tongues of Fire Asian Women’s Film Festival 2006 (nominated for best short) and screened at the ICA; it played out on ITV?’ iPlayer for three years before it went on to be selected for India’s first gay film festival, Kashish – Mumbai International Queer Film Festival 2010. It was also one of the films chosen to promote the second festival; the screening received a standing ovation. Her recently completed second short film, Matchmaker (Rubyfruits, 2010) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1808292/  a drama about a gay football fan, has just been selected by Kashish – Mumbai International Queer Film Festival 2011 (May 25th – 29th)  http://www.mumbaiqueerfest.com. Georgette is currently writing her first feature film script.

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Threeways 1988

Ann Day, drums, percussion; Julia Doyle, bass; Julia Farringdon, flute

Jazz trio 

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Tour de Force late 1970s/early 80s

Bernice Cartwright, bass; Deirdre Cartwright, lead guitar; Val Lloyd, drums; Viv Corringham, vocals

On a small stage in a pub, the band is fronted by guitarist, singre and bassist, with drummer at the back. A colour photo showing the women dressed in shiny blue and pink cat-suits.

Tour de Force gigging at the Greyhound

A dynamic photo of Deidre playing lead electric guitar, stepping forward dramatically, behind a microphone. Drumkit and bass player partly in shot.

and in Brockwell Park, south London, 1981

Tour de Force photos courtesy of Deirdre Cartwright

Review by Susy Taylor says the 'four piece plays loud, heavy rock.' Their new single 'Beat the Clock' has been released on Wonga Records, set up by themselves after negative experiences with other labels. The title track she finds a 'foot tapping catchy song' but too short, and the B side 'skillfully played, driving, rhythmic.' She was interested to hear lyrics as in live performance finds the band's music too loud for her taste. Beat the Clock was distributed by Rough Trade and Women's Revolutions Per Minute.

Spare Rib 120,1982

Spare Rib 120, 1982

 

 

 

 

The cover of Tour de Force's record School Rules, illustrated with drawings of two women in the style of the schoolgirl comic strip from girl's magazines of the time. The older one - a teacher - wags a finger in admonition at the other, in school uniform, who hangs her head.

Spare Rib 114,1982

this review is not readable due to the size of the cutting but is included to complete the adjacent image of the Tour de Force record.

Tour de Force review from Spare Rib 114, 1982

White background with a chess board in the centre of image. A clock face looms behind the board. A number of blue circles occupy the top right half of the image.

Four passport size photos of the band, super imposed over a clock face. Track info: 'Beat the Clock', 'Undecided', recorded at the Workhouse, produced by Tour de Force, distributed by Rough Trade.

White background, blue line drawing of two girls. One is wagging her finger authoritatively at the other. Drawing includes blocks of pink colour that frame the image.

Thumbnail mages of the band member's heads performing. Song titles: 'School Rules', 'We don't talk'. Distribution Pinnacle, released by Phantom Records.

Colour photo of the band, all dressed in black leather on a black back ground. Stern expressions, looking confidently at the camera. 'Tour de Force' written in bold red letters down the right hand margin.

Colour photo of the band dressed in black leather. Framed by a red background. All titles written by Tour de Force, AMP productions.

Thanks to Deirdre Cartwright for this link to a video of Tour de Force recorded live at a North London pub, the Pegasus. The song ‘Scandal’ was composed by Bernice & Deirdre Cartwright and was a regular feature of their live set circa 1979. The band playing was Bernice Cartwright, bass guitar & vocals; Carol Stocker on lead vocals; Deirdre Cartwright, guitar & vocals; Jackie Crew, drums & vocals. The soundtrack was probably recorded on Carol’s cassette player. The photo video was compiled by, and from the personal photos of, Carol Stocker – some of the photos show Jackie drumming and some show drummer Val Lloyd, who replaced Jackie in 1980.

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Transisters

Ann Day, Ros Davies, Sarha Moore

Street band

 

 

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