SIMBA MORRI LIVE!

SIMBA MORRI LIVE !!!!!!!!

Featuring

Josh Hawks - ELECTRIC BASE

Jono Sweetman - DRUMS

Sabu Jiyana - PERCUSSION

Biography Simba Morri

Morri Natti, professionally known as Simba Morri, is a South African musician and producer of Kenyan origin. He came to South Africa as a scholar and he studied Anthropology at the University of Witwatersrand before turning full time to pursue music. He became a regular performer as part of the band Mapantsula at political gatherings, cultural events, and fundraising concerts. Together with groups such as the original Bayete, Mango Groove, Malombo, and the African Jazz pioneers, Simba Morri was part of an alternative Music scene inside South Africa during the 1980s. Significantly, his music added a valuable pan-African dimension at a time when South Africa was culturally and politically isolated from the rest of the world.

Soon Morri was collaborating on stage with Mzwakhe Mbuli, The people’s poet. In 1986 he recorded his debut album “Wasamata” (Featuring Mozambican musician Gito Baloi on Bass and backing vocals. Both Morri and Gito also contributed composition, guitars, and vocals to Mzwakhe debut albums, “Change is pain” and “Unbroken spirit”. Morri’s participation in development projects is extensive and includes an ongoing association as an educator/consultant with cultural institutions and music departments in universities around the country.

Biography Sabu 

Siyabulela Bhele Jiyana (hereto referred to as Sabu) is from KwaLanga Township in Cape Town South Africa. He is a multi-instrumentalist, musical practitioner and co-founder of South African groups namely Matimba (2016), Addis Ababa Ensemble (2012) and Abavuki (2001). He completed his post-graduate studies in music performance at the University of Cape Town South Africa, College of Music. Sabu’s musical career spans over seventeen (17) years with performance across Europe and Africa. In 2016, he started a solo project named “Matimba” which means strength in Xitsonga.

Sabu finds his inspiration from Afrika, its diverse cultures, its dynamics and those spearheading Afrikan music such as Dizu Plaaitjies (with whom he performed and travelled internationally) Fela Kuti, Miriam Makeba and Salief Keita. His music aims to give an Afrikan history lesson; provoke the minds of audiences, while preserving Afrikan stories, indigenous instruments and Afrikan languages.

Josh Hawks

Josh started learning bass from Rastas Wakhile Xalisa and Ronald Bushulu in Nyanga East at 16 / 1986 . He went on to found The Streaks and The Zap Dragons in the early nineties , experiment with live dance music in the form of Colorfields and spent seventeen years with Afro-pop group freshlyground touring Africa Europe and the US . He has shared stages with innumerable artists including Aretha Franklin Stevie Wonder Stephen Marley Baaba Maal . He is currently involved in a Maskandi rock n roll project called The Rockskandi Kings .

Jonno Sweetman 

Jonno is one of the most original and sensitive drummers on South Africa’s exploding music scene. His sound and approach attracts attention wherever he plays and in whatever context he finds himself. Drumming is in his blood. His father, the late Robert Sweetman, was a great drummer who played professionally in the 60’s and 70’s.He has played and recorded with top South African jazz artists including Buddy Wells, Marcus Wyatt, Mark Fransman, Herbie Tsoaeli, Rus Nerwich, Jason Reolon, Alvin Dyers, Shannon Mowday and Feya Faku to name a few. Jonno is currently a member of the Kyle Shepherd trio, Reza Khota Quartet and Buddy Wells quartet, Albert Frost Trio and Karen Zoid.