Vivid Afrika Downloads

VIVID AFRIKA is McCoy Mrubata and Greg Hadjiyorki Georgiades with special guests. The origins of this music project are found firmly rooted in the soil of our African continent, with its richly diverse peoples and ancient history. The concept was given life by the coming together of two of South... Learn More »

VIVID AFRIKA is McCoy Mrubata and Greg Hadjiyorki Georgiades with special guests.

The origins of this music project are found firmly rooted in the soil of our African continent, with its richly diverse peoples and ancient history. The concept was given life by the coming together of two of South Africa’s most adventurous yet sensitive composers and musicians: McCoy Mrubata (alto and tenor saxophones, saxello and flute) and Greg Hadjiyorki Georgiades (who plays nylon guitar, oud, bouzouki and fretless resonator guitar).

It was resolved in the spring of 2004 – over a tasty cup of Mac’s home-brewed coffee – that they would start writing material that was, by nature, acoustic and rhythmically powerful enough to support melodies and styles from across Africa.

Many joyful and laughter-filled months later they had carefully assembled enough material for two albums and the time had come to choose 12 pieces that would express the rich diversity of the music of Africa.

Next, a group of fun-filled, capable expressive and sensitive musicians was required to make it all tick and give the music a voice! This was not a difficult task and soon Greg’s close friend and magical tabla player Ashish Joshi was on tabla, darbuka, dhol and djembe.

Another long-time friend and “musical brother”, Wynand van der Walt, joined the group, playing drums and percussion.

Renowned double bassist Mlungisi Gegana, who has worked with Zim Ngqawana, Hotep Idris Galeta and McCoy Mrubata, was a natural choice, with his depth of expression and groove (and yes… he too is a good friend!).

It followed logically that our choice for extra oomph on vocals and trombone would also turn out to be a friend with the most powerful, sensitive and expressive voice, all rolled into a pocket-sized rocket with attitude: Siya Makuzeni, who is also a trombonist.

When one listens to the music produced by this group, one realises that it could only have come from the deep foundations of these friendships, which allow the music created to transcend the mere notes and rhythms and open new avenues of experience.

Track Listing
1. Extra Chilli
Greg – nylon guitar; McCoy – tenor saxophone; Ashish – tabla; Mlungisi – electric bass; Wynand – drums; Siya – trombone

Inspired by the fact that most people cannot believe acoustic instruments can ‘cook’ or be hot and funky. Well, just order a side plate of this sauce!

2. Painted Skies
Greg – nylon guitar and vocals; McCoy – saxello; Ashish – darbuka; Mlungisi – acoustic bass; Wynand – drums and percussion; Siya – vocals

This is an expression of the inner expanse as it is defined by the vastness of the ever-changing sky. Each moment is a slowly evolving, kaleidoscopic painting, showing the way to places of eternal beauty.

“I look up to the sky
To see just where it goes
I look into the eyes
To see what they show
What they show…”

3. Scented Sands
Greg – oud; McCoy – saxello; Ashish – darbuka, dhol and manjira; Mlungisi – acoustic bass; Wynand – drums and percussion; Siya – trombone

A north African-inspired rhythmic structure with a simply evolving, exotic melody that transports the listener to a world of large, open spaces and the rich fragrances of the people that live there.

4. Rasta of the Burning Sands
Greg – oud; McCoy – tenor saxophone; Ashish – djembe; Mlungisi – acoustic bass; Wynand – drums and percussion; Siya – trombone

The sound of reggae with its characteristic bounce blended with aural flavours of the Horn of Africa from where the Rastafarian movement sources its origins.

5. Nuevolito
Greg – nylon guitar and vocals; McCoy – saxello; Ashish – tabla; Mlungisi – acoustic bass; Wynand – drums and percussion; Siya – vocals

This piece expresses the percussive energy and flow of east Africa with a strong syncopated 6/8 rhythm and an intoxicating, breathing vocal part. The name is inspired by the freshness of the dawning new day…

6. A Brothers’ Song
Greg – nylon guitar; McCoy – saxello; Ashish – tabla; Mlungisi – acoustic bass; Wynand – drums and percussion

A song dedicated to the strong bonds shared between brothers across Africa and indeed across the world. It is a celebration of the discovery that brotherhood is the fruit of deep bonds of caring and true friendship. It is unmistakable that this is the basis of all the music on this album.

7. Mac’s Mischief
Greg – acoustic guitar and vocals; McCoy – flute; Ashish – tabla; Mlungisi – acoustic bass; Wynand – drums and percussion; Siya – vocals

This piece is all about the freedom of the air as it blows through the trees, over mountains, across the seas to eventually find the full beauty of freedom flying through McCoy’s flute! The vocal ‘instruments’ seem to enhance the spatial feeling of the freedom to fly where one wants to go.

8. It Used to Be Blue
Greg – nylon guitar; McCoy – tenor saxophone; Ashish – tabla; Mlungisi – acoustic bass; Wynand – drums

A contemplative instrumental ballad that reflects aspects of ‘the blues’ and how this evolves and crystallises into a prism slowly spinning in space and radiating endless colours, hues and moods that extend and transcend…

9. Aardseklop
Greg – acoustic guitar; McCoy – saxello; Ashish – tabla; Mlungisi – acoustic bass; Wynand – drums and percussion

A mix of three South African traditional feels, namely boeremusiek, goema and mbaqanga, showing the closeness of these various cultural styles and how they all seem to grow out of each other.

10. Tribal Mirror
Greg – acoustic guitar; McCoy – saxello; Ashish – tabla; Mlungisi – acoustic bass; Wynand – drums and percussion

This song was discovered lounging in the idea that we all belong to one large tribe; when one gazes into this ‘tribal mirror’, one sees the reflection of the brotherhood of man.

11. Vivid
Greg – acoustic guitar; McCoy – saxello; Ashish – tabla; Mlungisi – acoustic bass; Wynand – drums and percussion

An aural sample of moods, colours, aromas and ambiance of South Africa with its rich diversity of peoples, animals and vegetation that rolls over waving grasslands, forests, valleys and craggy mountains, down to the flow of ancient rivers, winding their way down into the prehistoric sea.

12. Tunisia
Greg – oud; McCoy – saxello; Ashish – tabla; Mlungisi – acoustic bass; Wynand – drums and percussion

A North African piece that highlights the textures, phrasings and melodies of that part of Africa. There is a beautiful interplay between the traditional oud and the saxello where they seem to converse in the language of feelings and emotion…
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