Hey! My name is Andy and I’m traveling freelance photographer. I am interested in creating documentary photography because it is one of the simplest and most powerful tools that we have available to tell a story, to send a message and to raise awareness. I usually focus on human consequences of war and crisis in developing countries, but today I will tell you more about the drummer Flemming Rothaus or also known as Slim and Ming.
About his nicknames he says “In New York, when I was younger, broke and skinny, I would pass by this homeless guy in my block, he called me Slim as he asked for a dollar. Very soon my bass player would pick up on the name. Since then people just call me that way. When traveling in Asia people couldn’t pronounce Flemming. They always said Ming. That’s how I got that one. My many name’s is a mess!”
Slim is Ayo's ex-drummer and he is currently located in Asia. He started playing drums in his homeland - Denmark when he was a child, inspired by his dad who is also a musician. Later on, he moved to New York to redefine his style of playing and started experimenting with World Jazz, Roots, Blues and Reggae.
How did an inspiring musician end up in such exotic part of the world? Simply – love. "Sometime ago I was traveling loose in Yunnan, I saw this beautiful Coffee place in Shuhe. Inside was this girl cutting flowers. We talked, we had a coffee, I told her something like; ‘any place that has a Piano is my home". A month later, I got an email from her saying: I got a Piano, now you have a new home “He and his girlfriend are expecting their first child and are owners of “Caffeine” - a Jazz Café and a Guesthouse. A place where music comes first.
When speaking about music, Slim, whose heart belongs to Jazz, emphasizes simplicity. “Simplicity is the key element for all great music. To get that simple is a different step, I am working on new styles and this place give me the time and space to be creative.” His dream is to popularize Jazz music in China and “Caffeine” is definitely a step in the right direction.
Article and pictures by Andrés Vanegas Canosa.
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