Based: Port Elizabeth
Denzil Africa and the Vusa Band is known as one of the Eastern Cape’s top Jazz, cover and function bands, and is the preffered choice for festivals, presidential and corporate functions in Port Elizabeth and beyond. They have featured at numerous major festivals throughout South Africa (including Grahamstown Festival All Star Jazz Festival, and the Somerset East Biltong Festival together with Mafikizolo, Dr.Victor, Jennifer Jones, and many more), and have acted as backing band for several South African jazz icons such as Robbie Jansen, Winston Mankunku and Jimmy Dludlu. The Vusa band has also performed live on Jazz Café (ETV), and regularly features in the local media.
REPERTOIRE
The Vusa Band’s extensive repertoire includes background Jazz, African Jazz, and popular Jazz instrumentals, as well as disco and dance music hits, all in English, Afrikaans and Xhosa.
Some highlights from the repertoire includes:
Disco/Dance Music:
• Reggae Nights
• Get down on it – Kool and the Gang
• Stuck on You
• Have You Ever Seen The Rain – Dr Victor and Rasta Rebels
• I don’t wanna Dance – Eddy Grant
• Doo bee Doo – Freshly Ground
• Hamba Nawee – Mafikizolo
• Destiny – Malaika
• Dancing on The Ceiling – Lionel Richie
• Angel – Lionel Richie
• Believe – Cher
• Heaven
• Feeling Hot Hot
• Horny – Donay
• Emlanjeni – Mafikizolo
• Taliwham – Malaika
Jazz:
• George Benson
• Earl Klugh
• Jimmy Dludlu
• Joe Sample
• Kenny G
• African Jazz from various artist
• American Jazz from various artist
Members
Denzil Africa is a household name on the Eastern Cape music scene. During his career, Denzil has shared stages and performed with numerous national and international icons, including Robbie Jansen, Jimmy Dludlu, Judith Sepuma, Donald Harrison (from New Orleans), Kenny and Chante Lattimore, Winston Mankunku, Kurt Darren, Malaika, Mafikizolo, Steve Hofmeyer, Mandoza, Dr.Victor and the Rasta Rebels. PJ Powers, Mango Grove and many more.
With two successful albums to his name (“Out of Africa” released in 2001, and “Woman” released in 2011), Denzil, who has a diploma in Jazz, receives regular radio play on Eastern Cape and national stations. This acclaimed musician’s list of achievements include being the Cape Town regional winner of Shell Road to Fame 1988, Algoa FM Talent Search 2001 winner for the Best Eastern Cape Song, and being one of the Showtime winners for the Best Cabaret Show, “Motown Soul Groove”. He has also acted as adjudicator for the Eastern Cape’s Pop Idols and K-TV Talent search, he has been musical director for Metro FM, as well as for Port Elizabeth’s first School of Music at Dower College.
The Vusa Band fraws from some of Port Elizabeth’s top musicians, including:
Wilton Paulsen (Drums)
Joseph Potgieter (Bass)
Linda Tsaone ka Mhlaba (Vocals)
Mark Daniels (Keys)
Connel van Rensburg (Sound Engineer etc)
Denzil Africa (Piano, Vocals)
Nelisa January (Vocals)
Dudly Tito (Saxophone)
Rick Nash (Trumpet)
Cecil van Heerden (Guitar)
Peter Kamoetoe (Saxophone)
