Tribe Reunion Once off Concert

ABOUT

Tribe Reunion - One off Concert!! 

*Tribe, the quartet is back for a  once-off performance featuring original members Kesivan Naidoo, Mark Fransman, Buddy Wells and guest contra-bassist, Steve De Souza at the Athletic and Social Club on 8 July 2024.

The performance will feature songs from the band's debut album, "Our Language* released in 2003.

*TRIBE was formed in the early 2000s by a quartet of Cape Town based musicians - all established players and session men in their own right - as an outlet for their own expression and improvisational music. The group earned critical acclaim during their time together, and maintained a strong presence with the local South African audience, and also with a number of European appearances. The original members comprised  Kesivan Naidoo (drums), Charles Lazar (bass), Mark Fransman (piano) and Buddy Wells (sax).

The TransAtlantic Jazz Exchange is thrilled to present this special one off reunion performance, including the line up of original members Kesivan Naidoo, Mark Fransman, Buddy Wells and guest contra-bassist, Steve De Souza: 

Kesivan Naidoo, a South African jazz drummer and composer, epitomizes the freedom and limitless potential of music, drawing critics’ praise for his “majestic playing” and “mind-blowing listening.” A University of Cape Town graduate and SAMRO Overseas Scholarship winner, Kesivan has performed globally with jazz legends and led innovative groups such as Tribe, Golliwog, and The Lights. His accolades include a SAFTA, UCT Honors counsel scholarship, and the 2009 Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year. As Creative Director of Silent Revolution Music and co-founder of Cape Town’s Straight No Chaser, he supports creative musicians and fosters vibrant jazz spaces. His band The Lights, celebrated for their album Brotherhood, performed at Carnegie Hall’s Ubuntu Festival in 2014. In 2015, Kesivan joined Berklee College of Music’s Global Jazz program and now resides in Basel, Switzerland, continuing his musical journey.

Mark Fransman is a celebrated jazz musician and producer, mentored by musicians such as Hotep Idris Galeta, Errol Dyers, and René McClean. He holds a Performance Diploma in Jazz Studies from the University of Cape Town and has collaborated with renowned artists like Pharaoh Sanders and Abdullah Ibrahim. Mark has performed at major festivals worldwide, including the North Sea Jazz Festival and Chicago Jazz Festival. As a producer, he has won two SAMA Awards and produced albums for artists like Jimmy Dludlu and Moreira Chonguica. His own bands include Sonik Citizen and the Homage jazz trio, which honors South African jazz legends. In 2023, Mark’s album “Introducing Sonik Citizen and Cape Tone” won the Mzantsi Jazz Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. The recently released jazz Solo album is also Mark Fransman’s 1st instrumental album inspired by his passion for the aural musical tradition of South Africa, the album pays homage to a diverse group of musical icons, ranging from the likes of Abdullah Ibrahim (who the album is dedicated to), to musical theatre legend, Taliep Petersen.

Buddy Wells is based in Cape Town. The South African Saxophonist, composer, and arranger has had the pleasure of performing and recording with many well-known South African and international music legends. He has performed at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival every year from 2000 to 2019, and is a regular performer at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown and the Joy of Jazz festival in Johannesburg. International peformances include several North Sea Jazz Festivals in the Netherlands; the Swedish Jazz Celebration, Stockholm, the National Jazz Scene in Oslo, the Nehru Center in Mumbai India, the Festival d'Automne à Paris, the Oslo Jazz festival, the Brussels Jazz Festival, and the Berlin Jazz Festival.

Stephen de Souza is an innovative and highly in-demand bassist whose performing has earned him comparisons to artists like Marcus Miller, Ray Brown, and Jaco Pastorius. A cum laude graduate of the University of Cape Town, he has performed across South Africa with artists ranging from SAMA-nominated Vicky Sampson and Mandisi Dyantyis, to Standard Bank Young Jazz Artist Sisonke Xonti, to formidable collectives such as; The Unity Band, the

MIAGI Youth Orchestra and the South African National Youth Orchestra. Of which, have led him overseas to perform in cities such as Berlin, Vienna, Hamburg, Hong Kong and Taipei.