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Since moving from Japan to London, I have been working with "Topcats", "The Trojans", "Ska Cubano" and various other bands. I have travelled world wide playing at many festival and clubs. During this period I started to compose music. I realised that I knew so many great musicians and artists in London that I decided it would be great to collaborate with them on my project.

My business consultant Bibiana Crocitta asked me to perform at her seminar, she then introduced me to Colombian harpist Diego Laverde and we performed together. I was so excited to meet Diego because I had always dreamt of the harp in my compositions.

I was also introduced to another great performer through Gaz Mayall of "The Trojans", the legendary trombonist Rico Rodriguez. I asked "Rico...what’s your favourite tune to sing?" and he replied "Wonderful world".

Rico and "The Trojans" toured in Japan with "The Skatalites" in October 2008. It was Club Ska’s 20th anniversary party. I had a great time in my country with my friends and family.
Rico told me that I have a good vibe and feel and he would like to play music with me and I felt the same way about him.
I asked Rico if he would like to be involved with my project. He said "Yahman!"

After returning from the Japan tour. I started recording at the "Fish Factory Studio" owned by Antonio Feola. It is a fantastic analogue studio and I was happy that he shared my passion for keeping analogue recording alive.

I asked Dennis Alcapone to do the introduction for "What a wonderful world". He said "Yahman!". Dennis is a gentlemen and has a great musical sense.
Next, I asked Derrick Morgan and George Dekker to do backing vocals. George has a beautiful voice and great knowledge of Jamaican music.

"King of Ska"- Derrick Morgan is such an inspiration to me with his great passion for music and life.

George and Derrick have been a great vocal team for many decades and I feel so honoured to have them on my production.
Nicoraj Torp Larsen who plays with "The Specials" told me that he had always wanted to play with Rico, so I asked him if he would like to join the session, he said "Of course I would like to" "Yahman!"

I asked my favourite horn players Eddie "Tan Tan" Thornton - who brings the Jamaican sunshine with him wherever he goes and Ray Carless, The Edwards brothers - Brian and Trevor to come and play with me. It is always fun to work with these great horn players.
I then added Eustace Williams, Maurice Brown and Dr Sleepy who gave me a super groove and Tim Herniman's violin sound gave "What a wonderful world" the fairytale ending that I had hoped for.

I really wanted send out a message of love for my production of "What a wonderful world" so, I asked a beautiful musician couple from South Africa, Ruby and David Sarame to perform the chorus.

I loved David’s spontaneous impersonation of Louis Armstrong! Ruby, along with Vuyelwa Njongwe and Nomhle Mavata, are in the female acappella group "Bonolo" who performed on the chorus on Blue Lagoon. 

It was composed one year before I visited Jamaica. There, I found my very own Jamaican blue lagoon, I went into and inside it's miracle waters, I felt it had so much spirituality.
Natty Bo’s Harmonica and the Niyabinghi Djembe rhythm that Tony Uter and Dr Sleepy played on "Blue Lagoon" took me back to my time in Jamaica.

When I started my project, many people asked me "What is the Megumi Project?"
So, I made the song "Megumi Project" with Pat Sterling, Lester Sterling’s niece (lady Yahman's voice) to advertise to everybody what I am all about!
When we were finished recording, I asked Antonio to mix and Lewis from the fantastic family band "Kitty, Daisy and Lewis" to do the analogue mastering.

I always wanted to make a 10 inch vinyl and have my great artist friend Karen Kelly to create the art work for the record sleeve.
Many thanks to Yuka & Benoit Viellefon of "John John Records" and the "Kimono Girls", all my friends, my family and you..... "Yahman!"

Megumi Mesaku (Miss Megoo) October 2011

Miss Megoo & the Yahman All-stars

Megumi Mesaku “Miss Megoo”  - (Lead Vocals / Alto Sax / Recorder / MC)
Rico Rodriguez - (Vocasl)
Derrick Morgan - (Backing Vocasl / MC)
Dennis Alcapone - (MC)
George Dekker - (Backing Vocals)
David Serame - (Backing Vocals / MC)
Ruby Serame - (Backing Vocals)
Nomhle Mavata - (Backing Vocals)
Vuyelwa Njongwe- (Backing Vocals)
Eddie “TanTan” Thornton - (Trumpet)
Ray Carless - (Tenor Sax)
Brian Edwards - (Tenor Sax)
Trevor Edwards - (Trombone)
Nicoraj Torp Larsen - (Hammond Organ/Piano)
Tim Herniman - (Violin)
Diego Laverde Rojas - (Colombian Harp)
Maurice Brown - (Guitar)
Eustace Williams - (W.Bass)
Tony Uter - (Djembe)
Reuben White “Dr Sleepy” - (Drums/Djembe)
Natty Bo - (Harmonica)
Pat Sterling - (Lady Yahman)