Foolish Things EP

Nick van ‘groove’ Gelder started his music career in the mid 80s as drummer and co founder of cult space-rock band Ozric Tentacles. Juggling a busy gig/festival schedule with his art school commitments he completed his degree at Middlesex Polytechnic in graphic design but ultimately couldn’t deny his calling to music! Between 83-88 Nick provided the grooves for the 5 initial Ozrics cassette albums-the all instrumental improvised format was a valuable learning expierience- influenced by John Bonham,Phil Colins, Sly Dunbar a pantheon of US jazzrockfusion drumagogs of the day-Steve Gadd,Billy Cobbam,Bernard Purdie,Alphonse Mouson,Jeff Poccaro,Tony Williams,Lenny White,etc! 1998 saw Nick appearing on vinyl for the first time appearing on Lucinda Siegers cult classic ‘Sunset Red’ 12″ In 1990 Nick joined Acid Jazz act The Sandals as lead guitarist!-Touring round the UK and Europe with stablemates Cordouroy and Mother Earth, and appearing on the Leftfield produced debut single -Profound Gas.
Nick was introduced to new Acid Jazz signing Jamiroquai in late 91 by Sandals drummer and friend Wildcat Will .The young driven J.K had already recorded with members of The Brand New Heavies and was looking to start his own live band! 92 saw the release of the 12″ When You Gonna Learn on Acid Jazz records and a handfull of memorable gigs culminating in a showcase at Londons Jazz Cafe leading to the subsequent signing of JK to Sony s2 label.Nick went on to record on the classic chart topping debut -Emergency on Planet Earth LP playing; drums ,some guitar and co writing the song -If I Like It I Do It. (Nick was later voted 67th in the top 100 beats of all time for his drumming on Revolution 93 in a millenium poll in Rythm Magazine!) 93-94 was a hectic schedule of touring and promotion worldwide! including the release of the singles Too Young To Die ,Blow Your Mind and Emergency on Planet Earth . It was during this period that Jamiroquai forged his reputation as one of the tightest live acts around!
Nick left the band in 94 soon after recording the uptempo funk, break-beat driven track ‘The Kids’ on the Return of the Spacecowboy LP Later that year Nick got together with friends Simon Bartholomew(-funky guitar maverick of The Brand New Heavies)and bass player Nick Seymore to form the Acid Jazz ‘supergroup’ -Akimbo Signed to Acid Jazz the band recorded the On Top LP during 95 showcasing many of the Uks top young jazz guns including members of TBNH,Zero7,Incognito,Herbalizer,and Soul II Soul-.The band headlined Londons Soho Jazz festival two years running appearing at Ronnie Scotts and Madame JoJos Deep funk sessions-hosted by legendary rare funk Dj and collector Keb Darge.
By 1999 Nick and Keb Darge had started their own independent label-‘Deep Funk Records’. Nick produced and played on 6 singles – 3 x funk 7″s by the’ Imaginary Visions’,the criticaly aclaimed ‘modern’ soul 7″ What am I Gonna Do by Akwaaba People, and 2 more contempoary 12″ singles under his own name -Foolish Moon and Na Capoiera featuring Vocals by Nina Miranda of Smoke City fame. 2003 saw the 12″ release of rare soul covers Get On Up/To Be Free- on John Kongs DoRight Label- under the name Chosen 2 featuring Akwaaba People singer Mazen Nick has also been involved in various collaborations. -With ,SoulJazz keyboardist JessicaLauren, Nu soul prodiges Vannessa Simon and Omar,Ohm, FBI, Raw Deal and The Superphonics, not to mention countless gigs,sessions,and jams with many of Londons top funk soul brothers and sisters! In 2008, BBE released Nick’s own studio album ‘Choose Music’.

Nina Miranda’s father is Brazilian, her mother is English and she was born in Brazil, and educated in Brazil, England and France. She wanted to be an opera singer when she was younger, and then studied art. Nina is daughter to Brazilian visual artist Luiz Aquila. In 1992 Nina recorded a song called Underwater Love, with DJ and musician Marc Brown. The song was moody and cinematic, trip hop fused with Bossa Nova. Nina sang it using English with a French accent and Brazilian Portuguese. The track was featured in a successful Levi’s ad campaign, became an underground hit and caught the attention of several major record labels. Marc and Nina joined forces with musician and producer Chris Franck and the three became Smoke City. Smoke City released an album on Jive records called Flying Away to great critical acclaim. The band had created a unique blend of jazz, samba, trip hop, reggae, dub, folk and bossa. The album spawned top ten hit singles including a number one.
They extensively played the major venues and festivals all over UK and Europe, and in 2001 released a second album in the UK called Heroes Of Nature. Smoke City’s songs other writing collaborations Nina has been involved with are continuously used on films, TV and advertising worldwide.

Nina and Franck became a couple and have a son. The two of them released a new album in July 2007 under the name ZEEP.

Nina Miranda has worked with a variety of artists, and has guested on tracks for Da Lata, Nitin Sawhney, Bebel Gilberto, Daniel Jobim, Antonio Chainho, Shrift, Spiller, Faze Action, Jah Wobble, Les Gammas, Troubleman, Arkestra 1 and Robert Miles and most recently with ZEEP a new band set up with Chris Franck signed to Far Out Recordings.

Rio de Janeiro native, Zé Luis (José Luis Oliveira) is a multi instrumentalist, composer, arranger and producer with a broad experience in Pop, Rock, Classical, Jazz and Brazilian music. With impeccable credentials Zé Luis has been credited in over 330 albums and recordings. Starting the eighties in his homeland, Zé Luis was a steady member of Caetano Veloso’s band for seven years also participating in several of his recordings. In 1987 Zé Luis worked with Gilberto Gil on the original score of acclaimed director Cacá Diegues film “A Subway to the Stars” (presented at the Cannes Film Festival that same year).

Also in Brazil, Zé composed hits and recorded with such top artists as Cazuza, Blitz, Lobão, Tania Maria, Gal Costa, Caetano Veloso, Gilberto Gil, Ney Matogrosso, Banda Black Rio, Ricardo Silveira, Marina Lima, Simone, Vinicius Cantuaria, Luizão Maia, Claudio Nucci, Mario Adnet, Joana and Bebel Gilberto.