Whatshot
Paul Hanmer & Mccoy Mrubata
Paul Hanmer & Mccoy Mrubata
Paul Hanmer was born in Cape Town, South Africa, exactly 50 years after the death of Gustav Mahler. He has recorded several albums of which his first "Trains to Taung" is probably the most well-known.
Since 2002 he has written several chamber works for The Bow Project, Robert Pickup, Leon Bosch, The "clockwise" duo of Marc Uys and Jacqui Kerrod, European group 2tUBAS & friends and South Africa's New Music Indaba, amongst others. He continues to work with McCoy Mrubata and the duo made several new live recordings in June 2009 to document McCoy's 50th birthday and the partnership's 21st birthday.
McCoy Mrubata:
Saxophonist, flute player, bandleader and composer
Born in 1959 in Cape Town's historic Langa Township, South Africa, reedman McCoy Mrubata grew up with the sounds of African music: the soulful hymns of the Zion Church, the chants and rhythms of traditional healers and the brassy jive of the Merry Macs band who rehearsed opposite his home.
In the fiery aftermath of the 1976 uprising, the young McCoy then playing flute studied informally under Langa greats like Madoda Gxabeka, Winston Ngozi , the Ngcukanas, Ezra and Duke, Blackie Tempi and Robert Sithole.
A declining live music scene in Cape Town meant lots of touring, and McCoy was spotted by bandleader Sipho Hotstix Mabuse who helped him make Joburg his home
In 1992 he began touring with Hugh Masekela's Lerapo, alongside guitarist Lawrence Matshiza and pianist, the late Moses Molelekwa among others.
He also created his own bands, Cape to Cairo and McCoy and Friends
The duo will also be performing at Caversham Mill in the midlands on 29 & 30th Jan - so you have three opportunities to catch them!