No category to fit my story....

This interview was with Toli Almasi (aka Toli Nameless) from Brooklyn , USA . Toli leads an all female band known as Femme Nameless : playing jazz, Afro beat and pop music ; presently on a Paris tour (Dec 2010) - Rotimi Ogunjobi

Toli , I remember saying to you, after watching your performance , that I had never heard better Afro Beat music outside Fela's shrine. how did you come in contact with Afro Beat ? What was your initial musical background ?

Yes I remember, this was very kind of you. I initially came into contact with Afro Beat while studying jazz with Lester Bowie. My musical background came out of the western classical genre, progressed to musical theatre and modern music.

Who and what would you consider the greatest influence to your life and music? :
That would be my both of my grandmothers. My paternal grandmother was a classical pianist, teacher, and church organist. My maternal grandmother made it through each week by singing soprano in the church. The great "what" factor would be, the drive and desire to influence people to help others as they help themselves.

You appear very close to Sandra Izadore . How did you come in contact and what influence has she had on your life and music.
Yes. "Mama Sandi" as I sometimes call her. I first came into contact with her in New York City at a fundraising event produced by Rich Media. Sandra Izadore is a very inspirational person in my life and I feel extremely lucky to have met her. She is one part mentor and one part colleague, and that is the greatest part. She'll speak, but also listens and share ideas.

Your Barbican show included, a then unknown bass player, Esperanza Spalding. Indeed Esperanza s performance at the Barbican show was really marvelous. I can still remember the girl plucking with rapt concentration at a strange instrument which was actually an electronic upright bass. What is she up to now? Does she still do gigs with The Femme Nameless ?
Esperanza has released her third album since the Barbican show but we have not played together for some time now. I am very proud to be able to watch her career flourish and to know that she went on her first trans-Euro tour as a part of the Femme Nameless. This type of success is what I truly envision for the group. It should be a vehicle for change and empowerment. Perhaps with the appropriate opportunity and organization, she will yet again, play with the Femme Nameless.

How separate are you from your art?
Not sure I quite understand the direction of the question, but the short answer would be that music gets me out of bed and face each new day with a smile.

You once said that your greatest wish would be to perform in Lagos. Do you still feel that way ? What has hindered you so far ?
I would love to perform in Lagos and tour all of Africa regularly. I have yet to find or be presented with a viable plan. In general, it seems quite difficult to break into the African market unless you are producing hip-hop.

How much have you learned from other musicians?:
It has been quite a charmed career, to learn as much as possible from other musicians, especially the older musicians who have had the time to really and truly experience life. For example, a current day musician’s creativity is influenced by the amount of technology they may be exposed to in say 15 years. Older Musicians, some having played for more than half a century, have experienced so many changes in technology. Be it in the studio, on stage, or the internet: At the end of the day, there are basic rules of engagement that they fall back on. That is to say, a whole note is still a whole note, and a half note is still a half note. My career has the elements of unique personal vision and an inspirational education.

What would you consider the biggest mistake you have ever made?:
Sometimes I forget to turn off the oven. Now that has potential to be a real danger. Everything else is a life and or learning experience.

What career mistakes do you think you could have made in the past? What do you think you could have done better?
I am quite satisfied with the career choices that I have made thus far, I've done the very best that I can with what resources I had. If I could change anything, it would have been to create even more music business opportunities. That of course is the beauty of hindsight vision.