Band Members
ALISTAIR ANDREWS (BASS)
Specializes in 6 and 12 string basses and prefer fretless instruments. Although the group is led by Alistair, each band members contributes to Musical Direction for the group.
He’s been a regular on the South African music circuit for almost 30 years, playing in a variety of bands, with many of the country’s top musical names such as Richard Schilder, Robbie Jansen, Winston Mankunku and Harold Jeptha. He’s been a member of Alvin Dyer’s band for years, synonymous with the popular Monday night Jazz Jam scene in Cape Town. He is an endorsee for Warwick Basses, SWR Amplification and Rotosound Strings.
ALICE ZHANG (CONCERT/CHINESE BAMBOO FLUTES)
Alice hails from China, where she learnt her music from a young age. She’s an expert in traditional Chinese flutes, won music awards from early on, and went on to study music at Trinity College. After teaching stints in some Far East locations, she arrived in South Africa a few years ago where she joined the Cape Town Jazz Orchestra.
BONGANI SOTSHONONGA (CHROMATIC MARIMBA)
Acclaimed as one of South Africa’s most advanced marimba performers, Bongani has been plying his trade for many years as the resident musical director and marimbist at Marimba Restaurant, performing with a wide variety of groups including jazz and African music bands. These include vibraphonists Stefon Harris, Pascal Schumacher and Magda de Vries, and the UCT Big Band. He also leads the ever popular groups Phambili, Kalimbe and Intsholo.
BARRY VAN ZYL (DRUMS/ PERCUSSION)
One of South Africa’s greatest drummers, a stalwart of Johnny Clegg’s band since 1999, and numerous other top bands performing locally and globally, from Ladysmith Black Mombazo to Ernest Ranglin, Oliver Mtukudizi and the London Chamber Orchestra. Comfortable in many musical styles, from jazz to rock, pop, World Music and beyond, he’s also a keen explorer of ghoema and other traditional Cape music. He’s a producer, composer and endorses DW drums, Zildjian cymbals and Vic Firth sticks.
RONAN SKILLEN (TABLA/ DIGERYDOO/ PERCUSSION)
Tabla player Ronan Skillen has fast established his reputation on the local circuit in bands such as Babu & Tonik, and sessions with a wide variety of South Africa’s top music acts. Trained by Indian master percussionist Ustad Akram Khan, his worldly mix of tabla, didgeridoo, percussion and a hybrid drum kit makes him one of the most fascinating instrumentalists on the local circuit.
BENO DE MAAR (GUITAR)
Beno de MaarBeno de Maar grew up in a musical family. His mother a pianist introduced him to the guitar at the age of 11 years. At this point it was an informalexperience but later, when he started High School in Cape Town he started takinghis music more serious.It was then he decided to make music his career and ended up studying the Classical guitarat University. his life.The jazz guitar, he discovered when a friend gave him an album of Wes Montgomery. He was immediatelyinspired and embarked on transscribing the solos and chordal concepts. He played in jazz bands suchas Concert Boulevard, Out Of Town, Jazz Cyclone, Airborne, Counterpoint and also freelanceswith many other musicians.
BALACHANDER SADHARANI (SAROD/ SURSRINGER/VEENA)
From childhood Balachander was exposed to all forms of music – Carnatic, Hindustani, Semi classical music etc.
He completed his Post Graduation in Physics from St.Xaviers’ College, Mumbai. It had one of the best music groups and library in the form of the Indian Music Group (IMG). He was part of the organization for 5 years – including as a Secretary of IMG. As an organizer, this kept him in touch with music and musicians from all over India. In 1987, He started his training in Sarod under Pandit Pradeep Barot. It was also during this time that he met his ultimate mentor in the legendary veena player Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar.
He undertook a research project of designing and developing a new Veena – based on my understanding of Dhrupad and the limitations of the existing Saraswati Veena. The basic structure would be modelled on Saraswati Veena but modified to suit the Dhrupad style of singing / playing of his Ustads. He also studied some of the ancient treatises written on the making of Veena in the design / build of the new Veena.
CHRISTY ZINN (BERIMBAU and VIOLIN)
Christy plays the berimbau ever since she started training in the Brasilian martial art of capoeira. Comfortable in the Afro-Brasilian rhythms that emanate from capoeira music, she finds interest in adapting these to other styles of world music. Christy also plays the violin. Having started from a young age, she has won a number of awards, as well as attained UNISA qualifications for practical violin. Christy is from Durban originally, where she freelanced occasionally and has performed with a variety of groups, including the KwaZulu Natal Youth Orchestra.