THE RUDIMENTALS

Based in Cape Town

The Rudimentals is an AFRICAN-SKA Band based in Cape Town. Between 2004-2008, they had the privilege to perform at The Resonance New Years Eve Festival at Theewaterskloof, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival alongside Jazz greats such as Randy Crawford, Joe Sample, The Average White Band and Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Kirstenbosch Gardens, The Cape Metropolitan, The "Sounds of the City" concert series , Cape Town City Festival of Lights, the Splashy Fen Festival, Oppikoppi, a National tour with UB40 in 2007, and shared a stage alongside well known artists such as Johnny Clegg, Lucky Dube, Hip Hop Pantsula, Freshlyground, Mad Caddies and Fuzigish.

They are a socially diverse, fun-filled act, and strive to interact with people of all ages and tastes. They thrive on the fact that they defy compartmentalization and are really proud that brand of music carries the "unique" label. The music they write is a quest for the ultimate 21st century Pan African Ska party, comprising of dance-hall raps, reggae rhythms and a skanking back beat of vintage 70's Ska, with a brew of mbaquanga riffs and jazz and blues tones. This multi-layered musical offering is composed by 8 extroverted individuals, where youth and experience is blended into what is known as The Rudimentals.

THE STORY:
"In 2001 I saw an ad in the Cape Ads which read "Ska band looking for a vocalist"," says charismatic front-man Tehobo (Teboes) Maidza, 33, who performed alongside his Harare home-boys Mbira, musical legend Andy Brown and Afro-jazz man Oliver Mtukudzi, in his youth. He joined Duane Heydenreich (drums) and Ettienne Harris (guitar) and Barry Clausen (bass) to form the core of The Rudimentals. Recognizing the need for a huge horn sound, the band was led to Simon Bates (saxophone), Jody Engelbrecht (trumpet), and Ross McDonald (trombone), all of whom were students at the UCT College of Music. They have all since completed their music degrees and are currently music teachers at various schools in and around Cape Town. In 2003 the band decided to add to it's line-up, in the form of philosopher-keyboard player Dirk Meerkotter and the legendary Doc Mike Levy (a renowned Medical Practitioner and surfer who has played professionally for more than 30 years with the likes of Louis R and the Jive, Percy Sledge, and Zayne Adams, to name but a few).The latest addition to the band was in late 2004 in the form of bassist Errol Strachan, (AKA Bong), a former SA freestyle skateboard champion who has a 20 year career in reggae and dance-hall music. In early 2008, Dirk Meerkotter left the band, and was replaced by Antonio Cencherle, who used to play keys for Verismo. He is now known as “Tony Fingers".

PRODUCTIONS AND RECORDINGS:
The first album, "More Fire" (2003) topped SA Rock Digest charts while the 1st single, "Gangsta" enjoyed extensive radio play on both national and regional radio stations (it also topped the SA MP3 charts for the most down-loaded song for 7 consecutive weeks). Another single, NOH TV acquired a Bronze National Stone Award for the best directed video. This album was recently signed up by London-based label, MOONSKAWORLD, who will be promoting and distributing it in the UK, Europe and Asia (check out the new Moonska World Website for further information). The UK based label boasts artists such as The Toasters, The Upsessions, The BiG Rhoda Dakar, and many more!

The band's second album, Set it Proper, is self-financed and produced by trombonist, Ross McDonald, and was released in Mid 2006 to rave reviews across the country "It is raucously rudeboy, as well as musically refined, with airy space dub sitting alongside radio-friendly SKA-pop, a flash of punk and jive hybrid which has been fashioned into a form of Afro-SKA-Jazz." (Review Quote). Two of the singles from the album,” Radio Skaweto", and "London Sux" have been both in the #1 slot on the SA MP3 download charts for 3 months, two videos have already been made from the album and work on a 3rd video (London Sux) is due to start fairly soon.

LATEST PROJECT:
The band has filmed a full length live DVD at Kirstenbosch Gardens on Sunday 18th March 2007, during the Appletizer Sundowner Concert series. It was an ambitious undertaking, incorporating a 6 piece string section, 7 piece brass section, guest singers and a percussionist. It was a unique opportunity to take advantage of one of the most beautiful settings in the world, and turned out to be an evening to remember.
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