Based: 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”.
