The Rudimentals
Encyclopedia
The Rudimentals are an eight-piece ska
/reggae
band from Cape Town
, South Africa
. The band's releases include two CDs, More Fire and Set It Proper, and a live DVD/CD combo of the 2007 Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens Concert. The band is signed to the United Kingdom based Moon Ska World
distribution label. The group is one of a handful of Cape Town reggae-influenced bands, and has been described as a South African institution in tourist guides and on websites.
an showman Teboho (Teboes) Maidza that the band began to grow seriously. Teboes is known to have played alongside Andy Brown and Oliver Mtukudzi. The band subsequently took on a three-piece brass section, in the form of The University of Cape Town
's Simon Bates on saxophone
, Jody Engelbrecht on trumpet
and Ross McDonald on trombone
. Dirk Meerkotter replaced Milandro Mapenga on keys
.
The band released its first CD, More Fire, in South Africa in October 2003, and the song "Noh TV" won a National Bronze Stone award for best music video in that same year. In 2004, Blunt Magazine designated the band "Best Reggae and Ska Band" in the country. In 2003, Michael Levy joined on lead guitar
. Soon, Barry Clausen left, and six-times National Freestyle skateboarding
champion Errol Strachan (AKA Bong) joined up on bass.
In 2006, Ettienne Harris left and has not been replaced. In mid 2007, Dirk Meerkotter left the band and was replaced by Tony "Fingers" Cencherle. The band toured with UB40
in South Africa in July 2007, and has performed at the Cape Town
Jazz Festival, Zimfest 08, and numerous other annual South African events. The Rudimentals have also performed at concerts featuring: Mad Caddies
, Joe Sample, Randy Crawford
, Groove Armada
, Violent Femmes
, Johnny Clegg, Freshlyground, Lucky Dube
, Vivian Jones
, The Wailers, The Beat and Jimmy Eat World
.
In 2007 the band released its second album entitled "Set it Proper" and two singles off the album reached number 1 in the South African best MP3 Awards, each running at top spot for longer than 3 months. the singles were "Radio Skaweto" and "London Sucks"
The band has competed recording it's 3rd album in October 2010, and this will be released later in 2011. The Rudimentals continue to perform at all top South African events and festivals and have gathered a huge following and reputation for great live performances.
Ska
Ska |Jamaican]] ) is a music genre that originated in Jamaica in the late 1950s, and was the precursor to rocksteady and reggae. Ska combined elements of Caribbean mento and calypso with American jazz and rhythm and blues...
/reggae
Reggae
Reggae is a music genre first developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s. While sometimes used in a broader sense to refer to most types of Jamaican music, the term reggae more properly denotes a particular music style that originated following on the development of ska and rocksteady.Reggae is based...
band from Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The band's releases include two CDs, More Fire and Set It Proper, and a live DVD/CD combo of the 2007 Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens Concert. The band is signed to the United Kingdom based Moon Ska World
Moon Ska World
Moon Ska World, formerly known as Moon Ska Europe, was formed in 1998 as the European sister label of the defunct record label Moon Ska Records. It is based in the United Kingdom. The name change was revealed through the Moon Ska Europe website in 2006...
distribution label. The group is one of a handful of Cape Town reggae-influenced bands, and has been described as a South African institution in tourist guides and on websites.
Career
The original members of the band were bassist Barry Clausen, guitarist Etienne Harris, drummer Duane Heydenreych and keyboardist Milandro Mapenga. It wasn't until they met with ZimbabweZimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
an showman Teboho (Teboes) Maidza that the band began to grow seriously. Teboes is known to have played alongside Andy Brown and Oliver Mtukudzi. The band subsequently took on a three-piece brass section, in the form of The University of Cape Town
University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town is a public research university located in Cape Town in the Western Cape province of South Africa. UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, and is the oldest university in South Africa and the second oldest extant university in Africa.-History:The roots of...
's Simon Bates on saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, Jody Engelbrecht on trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
and Ross McDonald on trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
. Dirk Meerkotter replaced Milandro Mapenga on keys
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
.
The band released its first CD, More Fire, in South Africa in October 2003, and the song "Noh TV" won a National Bronze Stone award for best music video in that same year. In 2004, Blunt Magazine designated the band "Best Reggae and Ska Band" in the country. In 2003, Michael Levy joined on lead guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
. Soon, Barry Clausen left, and six-times National Freestyle skateboarding
Skateboarding
Skateboarding is an action sport which involves riding and performing tricks using a skateboard.Skateboarding can be a recreational activity, an art form, a job, or a method of transportation. Skateboarding has been shaped and influenced by many skateboarders throughout the years. A 2002 report...
champion Errol Strachan (AKA Bong) joined up on bass.
In 2006, Ettienne Harris left and has not been replaced. In mid 2007, Dirk Meerkotter left the band and was replaced by Tony "Fingers" Cencherle. The band toured with UB40
UB40
UB40 are a British reggae/pop band formed in 1978 in Birmingham. The band has placed more than 50 singles in the UK Singles Chart, and has also achieved considerable international success. One of the world's best-selling music artists, UB40 have sold over 70 million records.Their hit singles...
in South Africa in July 2007, and has performed at the Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
Jazz Festival, Zimfest 08, and numerous other annual South African events. The Rudimentals have also performed at concerts featuring: Mad Caddies
Mad Caddies
The Mad Caddies are a third wave ska band from Solvang, California. The band formed in 1995 and has released five full-length albums, one live album, and two EPs...
, Joe Sample, Randy Crawford
Randy Crawford
Randy Crawford is an American jazz and R&B singer. She has been more successful in Europe than in the United States, where she has not entered the Billboard Hot 100 as a solo artist...
, Groove Armada
Groove Armada
Groove Armada is an English electronic music duo from London, England comprising Andy Cato and Tom Findlay. They are perhaps best known for their singles "I See You Baby" and "Superstylin'"...
, Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes
Violent Femmes were an American alternative rock band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, initially active between 1980 and 1987 and again from 1988 to 2009...
, Johnny Clegg, Freshlyground, Lucky Dube
Lucky Dube
Lucky Philip Dube was a South African reggae musician. He recorded 22 albums in Zulu, English and Afrikaans in a 25-year period and was South Africa's biggest selling reggae artist...
, Vivian Jones
Vivian Jones (singer)
Vivian Jones is a Jamaican-born British reggae singer who performed with several bands in the 1970s before recording as a solo artist from 1980.-Biography:...
, The Wailers, The Beat and Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World
Jimmy Eat World is an American alternative rock band from Mesa, Arizona, that formed in 1993. The band is composed of lead vocalist and guitarist Jim Adkins, guitarist and backing vocalist Tom Linton, bassist Rick Burch and drummer Zach Lind....
.
In 2007 the band released its second album entitled "Set it Proper" and two singles off the album reached number 1 in the South African best MP3 Awards, each running at top spot for longer than 3 months. the singles were "Radio Skaweto" and "London Sucks"
The band has competed recording it's 3rd album in October 2010, and this will be released later in 2011. The Rudimentals continue to perform at all top South African events and festivals and have gathered a huge following and reputation for great live performances.
Current line-up
- Teboho Bobo Maidza - vocals
- Ross MacDonald - Trombone, backing vocals
- Simon Bates - Saxophone, flute
- Jodi Engelbrecht - Flugel, trumpet
- Michael Levy - Lead guitar
- Duane Heydenrych - Drums, percussion
- Antonio Cencherle - Keyboards
- Errol 'Bong' Strachan - Bass guitar