Arts writer
CAPE Town-based 13-piece band The Rudimentals will return to the Cape Farmhouse on Saturday with their unique blend of music styles.
Their repertoire includes ska, reggae, dancehall, drum and bass, dubstep and hip hop. The band started in 2001 with its roots in ska and reggae, mixing in African elements and founding frontman Teboho “T-Boss” Maidza added an undeniably South African flavour.
Fast-forward 13 years and the vocal section have expanded to include three MC’s – two international male fashion models/actors and a Zimbabwean-born “toasting” MC.
There’s still a keyboard player, but now there’s also an electronic and beats synth-player, a drummer who was first blooded in the heavy rock-metal scene, a rotating roster of up-and-coming backing vocalists – and it’s all still powered by a rude-boy brass and rhythm section.
The new band consists of musicians with various and diverse backgrounds: MC “Khaos”, from Jamaica, and MC/Rapper Abdi Whosane Pangaea, from Brooklyn, New York, are the two models.
King Labash is a Zimbabwean-born dancehall and reggae toaster, trumpeter Jody Engelbrecht is a music teacher; bassist Errol “Bong” Strachan played with Cape Town reggae bands like Sons of Selassie, and Blunt, and trombonist Ross McDonald runs Hey Papa Legend Studios and Rising Records, and also plays for Hog Hoggidy Hog.
Simon Bates, the sax player, is also a music teacher. The band’s lead guitarist, “Doc” Mike Levy, is, in fact, a medical doctor. Founding lead vocalist T-Boss Maidza is an environmental consultant.
Antonio Cencherle and Nikolai Athiros complete the rhythm section on keys and electronic synths.
l www.therudimentals.co.za