THE GEORGE MARI BAND

Based in Durban

The George Mari Band has a wide repertoire including a large selection of Afro-Jazz standards, popular/main stream Jazz favourites and original compositions. The band performs regularly in and around Durban. Regular appearances at various Durban venues include a residency at Zacks at Musgrave Centre (2003-2004) and Wilson 's Wharf, the BAT Centre, Gateway, Centre for Jazz & Popular Music ( University of KwaZulu-Natal ) and the Sun Coast and Sibaya Casinos. The band is regularly hired for a wide variety of corporate functions in KwaZulu-Natal and is currently resident band at St Tropez Sidewalk Café in Essenwood Road.

Events the George Mari band has performed for, include:

Recorded the official anthem for the African Athletics Championships, composed by George Mari (1993)
The Jacob Zuma Education Trust Fund Dinner at the Durban City Hall (2001)
American Consulate Celebration: Independence Day 4 th July 2003 at the residence of the American Consul General
Further Education & Training (FET) Inaugural Function at the Durban Exhibition Centre (2003)
International Association of Ports & Harbours Conference held in Durban (2003)
Human Rights Conference, Hilton Hotel (2004)
Daimler Chrysler Key Clients Year End Dinner, Cradle of Mankind Heritage Site, Johannesburg (2004)
Official Launch of Lifestyle Brand Campus - Mercedes/Daimler Chrysler/Jeep Showroom opening in Umhlanga (2005).
Launch of Rey Foundation, Sibaya Casino (2005)
Department of Health, Budget Speech delivered by the KZN Minister of Health (2006)
Dept Arts & Culture: Minister's Culture Forum, UKZN (2006)
Gala Dinner: Tri-nations Summit , ICC Durban (2006)

Band leader George Mari has an MMus in Jazz Composition and Arranging from the University of Natal. He teaches part-time at the Durban Institute of Technology and the University of KwaZulu-Natal. In 1995, while studying at UND, he was awarded a scholarship to study trumpet under the tutorship of world-renowned trumpeter Arturo Sandoval at Florida International University, Miami, USA. He also had the opportunity to study with South Africa 's legendary Hugh Masekela who was the UND "Artist-in-Residence" for several months. Although his first love is jazz, he has appeared in a wide range of musical settings including the concert stage, musical productions at venues such as The Cellar, the Playhouse Theatre and the Barnyard Theatre (Boogie Wonderland, La Vida). He was also the leader of the popular Durban dance-band The Belltones.

George has worked as a trumpeter, pianist, composer and arranger in Durban for several years and his own band GMQ (The George Mari Quartet) has been instrumental in bringing his compositions to life, by performing them regularly at local Jazz venues. He has performed at the Grahamstown Arts Festival for several years, his favourite performance being Steve Dyer's New Directions in South African Music. He is also involved in several community Arts projects and is/has been a member of the teaching staff for the Grahamstown Schools Festival, VUKA Arts Project (Bloemfontein) and the UKUSA Arts Programme (Durban). George released his debut album entitled Syringa Avenue in 2003 - all original compositions which featured Roland Moses (piano), Bongani Sokhela (Bass) and Bruce Baker (Drums). In January 2006 George released his 2nd album, My Mecca , which features Melvin Peters (Piano), Bongani Sokhela (Bass), Bruce Baker (Drums), Debbie Mari (Vocals) and George Mari (Trumpet).

For private and coprporate functions, the band is flexible and draws from a talent pool of professional freelance Jazz musicians working in the greater Durban area.

The band's extensive repertoire includes:

songs/arrangements by Abdullah Ebrahim - Royal Blue, Mannenberg, African Market Place; other/traditional - Jikelemaweni, Shosholoza, mbaqanga medlies, Yakal inkomo (Winston Mankunku) , Click Song (Miriam Makeba) , Ntilo Ntilo (Peter Ngubane), Meadowlands, Skokiaan (Jazz Pioneers version), Mra (Ezra Ngakuna), Mamazela (Zim Ngqawana) etc.

Main stream Jazz selections include: Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra, Robbie Williams such as Fly Me to the Moon, Straighten Up and Fly Right, L.O.V.E, What a Difference a Day Made, Stormy Monday, Mustang Sally, Aint No Sunshine, Girl from Ipanema, All of Me, Mack the Knife, Green Dolphin Street, My Baby, Summertime, Watermelon Man and Cantaloupe Island.