So far...

After years of playing the guitar, my real musical life started at the tender age of 23. I had just moved to Berlin to finish my geology degree and was hanging out at the local Jazz joints, hearing for the first time the moving sounds of Charlie Mariano and the impeccable phrasing of Joe Henderson. Never before had I heard anything like this and it moved me so much, I scraped together the little money I had, bought a vintage PanAmericana Alto and a few lessons with Mike Duchstein, Berlin’s famous sax doctor.

 

Fast forward to a few years later: I had just moved to South Africa to start a professional career in geology. And even though I spent weeks at a time somewhere in the African bush looking for copper, gold or diamonds, the sax was always with me. So it was almost inevitable, that eventually I connected with the local Joburg music scene. Soon I played gigs on weekends while nurturing a corporate career during normal working hours.

 

As many good things in life depend on good fortune, my dear friend and South African Jazz guru Don Albert introduced me to George Lee, a Ghanaian master saxophonist who had toured with Louis Armstrong, Chris McGregor's Brotherhood of Breath and the great Bob Marley (check out that solo on "Nutty Dread" or “Big G”). George convinced me to follow my passion and focus more on music. Forever grateful for his advice, I started practicing hard under his wings, going through the George Lee school of life, while "managing" his band. I played 150 gigs a year, started a business consultancy and a record label supporting local artists.

 

During my South African years, I was lucky to meet and play with many bands in many different settings from Jazz to Pop, big band to solo sax gigs. I was a finalist in Old Mutual's Jazz Encounters competition and played with George Lee (Larnyoh), the Fat Sound under the leadership of John Davies, South African radio crooner Garth Taylor, many great Jazzers such as Dave Askes, Mark Dube, Roland Moses, Antonio Orrico, Bheki Khoza, Herbie Tsoalie, Peter Auret and a variety of DJs in some of Joburg's premier Clubs. I lent the horn to Undersound, South Africas hottest funk band of the mid 2000s, with whom I played all major South African festivals (incl prime time Saturday at Splashy Fen) and was featured on radio, TV and print media. The album Undersound, published under my own Telesto label, received critical acclaim. I was fortunate enough to produce Bheki Khoza’s wonderful debut album “Getting to Heaven Alive”. With his beautiful guitar playing, the deep spirituality of the songs and the support of some of the best South African musicians, the album won the 2007 SAMA award for "Best Jazz Album" and received several SAMA nominations. Denzil Weale’s album "Symphony of Fire" was also published under the Telesto label and received several SAMA nominations.

 

Today, I live with my family in Switzerland. Alongside family and a corporate career, music remains my passion. While I feel home in the Rhine Valley with its many great players, I maintain my ties to my second home South Africa and its rich music scene. And I remain grateful for every opportunity to play and share magical music moments with the audience and fellow musicians.

 

As the great George Lee would say: "Don't worry, just play!"