Jive Kayana
Township Jive Music from South Africa
One
day, late in 1997. I got a call out of the blue, from some one I did not
know called Kris Gudu. I had been recommended to him by someone who
remembered me playing with "NAHBENZI" in the mid 80's. He had not been long
resident in Australia and wanted me not only to play in the band but to get
it going. I missed my African music so I was more than happy to.
I had just done a jazz gig the week before with a
drummer, Ed who just happened to mention that he liked and played world music.
So we got him on board. I knew Bruce Allen very well. In fact we were a "renta
horn section" known at the time as the "KA Horns" (as in "car" and of course
coming from the first letters of our surnames). Ed just happened to live with
John (who just happened to be an African guitarist) and Kris brought Luke and
Tulani in. So in short order, we had instant band.
We recorded the CD in my basement studio. I spent months
mixing those tracks. I was very pleased with the final result. Just having
graduated with a degree in music technology it was a good use of my new found
skills. We sent those CD's off everywhere and got quite a bit of radio play. We
performed wherever we could. Gigs for the local African community, World Music
Festivals and staged self-promoted gigs.
The band was just a hoot to play in. Bruce and I departed the band in late '99 and moved on to other things. Apparently Kris is still around and doing music but I have not seen him for years. We did sell a lot of CD's at our gigs. If you have one of these - hang on to them they are collectors items now!
Jive Kayana in 1997:
Kris Gudu: Vocals and Bass
Luke Dubber: Keyboards
John Pease: Guitar
Ed Hughes: Drums.
Tulani Masemola: Congas
Peter Kartu: Trumpet
Bruce Allen: Saxophones