Current Projects

Qwati

A joint venture with young English pianist Alexander Hawkins which seeks to explore the wider spectrum of South African Jazz, from the firey exploits of the Borhterhood of Breath / Blue Notes to the Strayhorn / Duke Ellington influened textural lanscapes created by Abdullah Ibrahim & Kippie Moeketsi.The group features strong musical presences and walks the tight rope between crisp arangements and complete musical anarchy

Nthsuks Bonga (saxes / compositions / arrangements)

Alexander Hawkins (piano / compositions / arrangements)

Claude Deppa (trumpet)

Gail Brand (trombone)

Oren Marsall (tuba)

Mark Sanders (drums)

and Andy Grappy (tuba) & Greg Bonnie (tenor sax) have greatly contributed to live and recording ventures

for sounds: http://www.myspace/qwati

Review by Chris Parker of Vortex gig 15th Jan 2009

Like McGregor, and Bonga's great inspirations Dudu Pukwana and Kippie Moeketsi, Qwati gravitate towards the free end of jazz, so alongside the saxophonist were some leading exponents of the form, trumpeter Claude Deppa, pianist Alexander Hawkins, tuba player Oren Marshall and drummer Mark Sanders. In an interview with Wire magazine shortly after Bonga's album Urban Ritual was released on Slam in 1995, the alto player cites Albert Ayler and Peter Brötzmann as important additional influences on his playing style, and characterises his approach as 'all improvised', but allowing 'more things in than some of the more abstract players might do'.

Accordingly, for the most part (an alto/piano duo, Billy Strayhorn's 'Lush Life', a delightfully eccentric exception) Qwati would establish a jauntily lively rhythm with a harmonised theme from the horns, then allow individual soloists free rein to explore all its rhythmic and melodic possibilities.

Bonga and Deppa are an extremely compatible front line, their adventurous and impassioned playing constantly pushing at the tunes' boundaries – Bonga all grainy, declamatory power, Deppa alternately pleasingly woozy and stirringly strident – but Hawkins, too, provided some memorable moments, either clattering tastefully across the beat or suddenly reaching inside the piano to provide extra textural variety to the sound mix.

Underneath this infectious mélange of freedom and structure, Marshall for the most part played his customary selfless role, providing the repeated bass figures that held the music together, but he too was able to insert some extraordinary solos into the performance, full of deep rumbles, soft purrings and a plethora of other effects; with Sanders driving the band with his trademark mix of vigour and controlled power, this was an irresistibly enjoyable, but consistently musicianly gig.

Louis Moholo-Moholo Unit

Starting out life as a two alto quintet, the group now features:

Louis Moholo-Moholo (drums/leader)

Francine Luce (voice)

Pule Pheto / Alexander Hawkins (piano)

Jason Yarde (saxes)

Nthsuks Bonga (saxes)

Orphy Robinson (vibes/marimba/steel pan)

John Edwards (bass)

This group operates between complete freedon and stately themes composed and arranged by Louis, Jason and Pule

Orphy Robinson's Spontaneous Cosmic RawExtra

Orphy has put together a living musical experience that encompasses elegant spoken word, vocal gymnastics, soulfullness and sleight of hand.. and a wonderful group of musicians who create musical form and beauty out of thin air - alchemy!

The most recent edition included: Orphy Robinson, Cleveland Watkiss, Andrew Ward, Pat Thomas, Steve Noble, Corey Mwamba, Roland Sutherland, Otto Fisher, Camelle Hinds, Shabaka Hutchings, Brian Edwards, NB

This group played King's Place on 26 October 2009 - what a fantastic night! Watch out for the next one

Here's a reviw of the show

http://mapsadaisical.wordpress.com/2009/10/28/the-spontaneous-cosmic-rawxtra-kings-place-261009/

Somedectet

A new compsitions driven large group featuring UK based improvisors from at least a generation and a half. Members contribute compositions that range from formal scores to spoken perfomance strategies.

Alison Blunt (violin)

Hannah Marshall (cello)

Gail Brand (trombone)

Nick Malcolm (trumpet)

Alex Bonney (trumpet)

Alex Ward (clarinet)

Shabaka Hutchings (bass clarinet)

Mark Hanslip (tenor sax)

Ntshuks Bonga (alto sax)

Dominic Lash (bass)

Olie Brice (bass)

Javier Carmona (drums)

Ntshuks Bonga / Alexander Hawkins Duo

South African jazz standards, original composotions and complete freedom...

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