The Composers
Ron "Bones" Brettell
(Africa Calling, Shadows of Africa, Sport Africa, Visions Africa and Spirit of Africa)
The driving force behind Mathambo Music is perhaps best known for his keyboard playing and recordings with the predominately girl group “Clout” that had the international smash hits “Substitute”, “Save Me” and “Under Fire” climbing to the top of the charts all over the world in the late ‘70’s.
Turning his attention to African styled music composition and production, Ron has 15 gold records to his credit
as a music producer for South African artists such as Rebecca Malope, P.J. Powers and Hotline, while producing hundreds of advertising jingles and TV themes. Alongside the late great Dave Pollecutt, he co-produced and engineered the music soundtrack of the record breaking international hit dance musical African Footprint, which has also achieved gold status in South Africa.
Zamo Mbutho
(Zulu Roots and Visions Africa)
A composer, singer and music producer, Zamo has featured in studio sessions with Brenda Fassie, Letta Mbulu, Simply Red and Mbongeni Ngema.
He has also performed live with Jon Secada and Claire Johnston in South Africa and been a regular member of legend Miriam Makeba's backing group, which toured many countries worldwide.
William Haubrich
(Reflections of Africa)
Born in San Diego, California in 1960, composer, arranger, trombonist William Haubrich joined the Cape Town Symphony in 1982 and was soon ensconced into the local jazz and African music scene.
He has arranged and composed for symphony orchestra, jazz ensemble, theatre, choirs, African groups and has been instrumental in combining Western and African music and musicians in Southern Africa. Regularly commissioned from Europe, Africa and the U.S., Haubrich's evocative and diverse works are used internationally in television, film and recordings.
Jaco Maria Ngoka
(African Impressions series)
Part of a talented family band, Jaco began singing in school choirs when he was sixteen, and was soon singing and playing guitar at nightclubs. Later working in Swaziland, Jaco performed with Pacific Express featuring the well-known South African musician, Robby Jansen.
Moving to Johannesburg, Jaco worked with some of South Africa’s greatest; Miriam Makeba, Jimmy Dludlu, Alou April, Judith Sephuma and many others.
Based in Cape Town, Jaco sings with the South African band “Loading Zone” with two CD releases to their credit, while doing recording sessions and creating music.
Jaco’s first solo CD release “Life Again” features contributions from Ian Smith, Buddy Wells, Lucas Khumalo,
Peter Ndala, John Hassau, Jimmy Dludlu, Judith Sephuma, and Nhlanhla Magagula.
Jerry Barnard
(African Impressions series and African Wildlife)
Jerry was born in Essex, England and moved to then Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe at the age of seven. On completing school he attended the Rhodesian College of Music. He built his first recording studio and became actively involved in the local recording scene. Around the same time he joined his first rock band. The entire band moved to Australia and changed their name to "Holy Black" featuring the powerful vocalist Una Vali. Returning to South Africa some years later on a tour with Albert Hammond, Jerry created B&S Studios in Cape Town which is still going strong today.
When not concentrating on production music, Jerry produces, composes and engineers jingles and soundtracks for the advertising industry, having achieved an impressive wall of awards for his efforts.
Ryan Grogan
(African Impressions series)
Ryan has a masters degree in music composition and arrangement from the University of Cape Town South Africa. He has also studied at Berklee College in Boston USA. Ryan is a pianist and keyboard player who has performed with acclaimed South African artists Jimmy Dludlu and Judith Sephuma.
Between regular gigs with his own jazz trio, he composes music for film and TV. This includes numerous high profile documentaries and commercials, for one of which he received a "Dogstar" award in 2004 for the best music for a South African TV ad.
Godfrey Mgcina
(Rhythm Africa)
South Africa's most sought after percussionist and drummer, Godfrey began his career with Moses Ngwenya of the legendary South African group Soul Brothers.
His credits include playing drums on Clarence Carter's album "Live in Johannesburg" and Shirley Brown of "Woman to Woman" fame. He has also played live and worked in recording sessions with P J Powers, Bayete, Hugh Masekela, Caiphus Semenya, Letta Mbulu, Johnny Clegg, Lucky Dube and Snoop Doggidog.
Godfrey travels the world regularly as a session musician, and is renowned for his experience and understanding of African rhythms
Roy Schoombie
(Rhythm Africa)
An adventurer and explorer of the African continent and its musical roots, Roy is also an accomplished drummer with unique expertise in the development and fusion of both ancient and modern African rhythms in a journey of percussive self-discovery called "Drumthology".
He has played drums with among many others, Garnett Brown of the Billy Cobham band, Bob Zotolla of the Chick Corea band, and Alex Foster of the Jaco Pastorius band.
Geshom Gazi
(House of Africa Vol 2 )
Zimbabwean born composer started playing and
writing at a young age.
His talent soon turned into
a life passion.
After moving to the UK, success came when composing and producing for
artists; Aggro Santos,
Natasha Thomas, Blush UK, LZ7 and Ruff diamonds. Lately Geshom has
focused his time and talent on music for TV and has had placements
with BBC, Channel 4, Network Ten, Nine Network and Network Seven to
mention a few.
Star Mabaso
(Africa Calling)
Star was the African voices coordinator and cultural advisor for KPM’s “Colors of Africa” Production Music CD.
She is a well known Johannesburg session singer and co-composer on literally hundreds of South African jingles. Star has a wealth of South African melodic and rhythmic ideas ready to deliver at the drop of a hat.
Bongani Masuku and
Sipho Nxumalo
(Shadows of Africa
and Visions Africa)
These in-demand Johannesburg session singers have turned their considerable talents to music composition for the Mathambo Music catalogue.
They have regularly performed live with Johnny Clegg and been important components in recording sessions for the internationally renowned Quincy Jones and Simply Red, as well as with famous South Africans, (to mention only a few) Hugh Masekhela, Caiphus Semenya, Miriam Makeba and Abdullah Ibrahim.
Sipho and Bongani were key vocal components in the Johannesburg recordings of Disney’s The Lion King original soundtrack.
They also performed live at the original Nelson Mandela’s 46664 concert held in Cape Town, South Africa.
Bernie Millar
(Africa Calling and Visions Africa)
Bernie was the music director for the “All Africa Games 1999”, a stadium show with a cast of thousands.
He has composed several hit songs including a number one chart-topper in the South African market.
Bernie has written both advertising copy and music for dozens of TV and radio commercials,
and devised and scripted several “live” corporate musicals.
Sven Larsen
(An African Journey, African Soundscapes, Spirit of Africa)
Sven began playing music in 1975. Sven has toured with various bands, such as Friendship with PJ Powers,
Caz, Mia – The Worx, Sugar and Spice.
He started a studio career working with Ray Phiri of Stimela, producing and composing music for various artists in all genres. Sven produces music for TV and film scores, as well as engineering final mix for post-production in Johannesburg, while continuing to play live music as a guitarist.
Marshall Harmse
(Visions Africa and
Spirit of Africa)
Marshall started playing guitar at the age of sixteen. He joined the group Shiraz, which had a European hit song "Fighting for our Lives", playing guitar with various other bands both in South Africa and abroad, touring the UK and Europe.
Marshall performs at live gigs and also as a session musician, arranger, guitarist, keyboard player and programmer. He has worked in the theatre as musician and musical director, and at Sun City as entertainer.
A studio sound engineer and music producer, he worked on more than a 100 albums for several record companies in both indigenous African and Pop music fields.
Marshall joined Urban Brew's Rhythm Factory in early 1999 as technical and studio manager to oversee the metamorphosis from audio studios to audio-visual, post-production and multimedia powerhouse.
Andy Innes
(Visions Africa and Spirit of Africa)
Andy cut his teeth on musical theatre and as the musical director for the PJ Powers band.
Having worked with numerous name artists in South Africa such as Vicky Samson, Abigail Khubeka, Sophie Mgcina, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and others, he went on to become the guitarist and musical director for Johnny Clegg, also performing this function for artists like Jackson Browne and working with Peter Gabriel, Dave Stewart, Ernest Ranglin and others.
Continuing his tenure with Clegg, Andy also produces maskande artists in a joint venture with Sony BMG.
Patrick van Rensburg
(Spirit of Africa)
Patrick is a wildlife enthusiast with a passion for elephants. He grew up in Zimbabwe playing music from an early age.
A drummer, vocalist and originator, he performed in some of the top bands in South Africa.
Patrick joined the chart-topping afro-pop group
P.J. Powers and Hotline, sharing the stage with such greats as the band America.
He went on to form the anti-apartheid band "Zia" with Clout vocalist Cindy Alter in the mid 1980's, producing a revolutionary fusion of African and rock music.
Zia toured Europe appearing on several TV shows and performing live with some the top "world music" acts which culminated in big support shows with the Bee Gees in France.
Now based in Zululand, Patrick produces wildlife videos while contributing African themed compositions for Mathambo music
Deejaybee & Flickerbeat
(House of Africa)
This zany but smokin' duo have found the recipe to cook up the hottest, tastiest, African urban House and Techno/Electro vibes.
They mix up all the right ingredients to make modern music magic that is an assault on the senses and peppers every image with hip swinging rhythms aimed at the new and ever changing African music market.
Come and get it!
Mike Campbell
(African Big Band)
Mike Campbell is a composer, arranger and conductor with many years experience in the jazz and commercial music business. Born in South Africa, he travelled in Europe with various bands and lived in the U.S. while completing a Bachelors degree at the University of North Texas, performing with his own group throughout the Dallas/Ft Worth Metroplex.
He has Masters and Doctoral degrees in music from the University of Cape Town, where he currently heads the Jazz Studies Programme in the SA College of Music. His compositions and arrangements have featured on many live and recording productions, and he has collaborated with the countrys top recording artists including Judith Sephuma, Gloria Bosman, Sibongile Khumalo, Selaelo Selota and many others.