TopDog SA’s saxophonist Donveno Prins, who recently lead the band for the inaugural run for David Kramer’s Kanala show at The Fugard Theatre, is also the band’s leader. Add Camillo Lombard on keyboards, Charlton Daniels on bass, Mornay Hoffmeester on drums and Mark Williams on guitar and you’re in the company of some of South Africa’s most respected music makers who’ve played with some of the greats.
Described as a fresh vibrant band and a force to be reckoned with, TopDog SA has already made its mark in venues from the Bellville Velodrome to Carnival City in Johannesburg.
They’ve also featured at major music festivals, including the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Jazz On The Rocks Festival, Safricon Jazz Fest, Kenya, and Satchmo’s Jazz Fest in Nigeria.
They have a recipe that’s made up of equal parts Afro Vibes and fusion jazz fuelled by Khoi san legacy and various indigenous African rhythms, which the band calls “KhoiJazz”.
“We’ll be doing two sets, where the full repertoire of our musical influences and stories will be played,” Prins says.
“It’s going to be two hours of exceptional music,” Hoffmeester adds. “Some tracks, from our recently released debut album, Griqua DNA, have never been played live before, so we’re excited to perform them in front of a live audience for the very first time. The vibe in the studio was amazing when we recorded these songs, so seeing how they’ll translate live has us all filled with nervous anticipation. It’s a great place and privilege for any musician to be in that space.”
The collective is also focused on youth and community development, sharing their time and talent teaching youth in impoverished communities, as well as presenting reading classes, and supporting events such as Music Exchange.
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