Mervyn Africa

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Mervyn Africa, 1983

Mervyn Africa (born October 18, 1950 in District Six ) is a British jazz musician ( piano , keyboards ) of South African origin.

Live and act

Africa studied music at the University of Capetown . Then he formed his band Oswietie . In 1980 he received a Sarie (South African Grammy) for his arrangements of the album Paradise Road as a member of the fusion band Spirits Rejoice . In 1981 he went into exile in Great Britain and played in the groups of Hugh Masekela , Dudu Pukwana and Julian Bahula . Together with Brian Abrahams he founded the band District Six , on whose first two albums he was involved. With percussionist Thebe Lipere he led the group Out of the Window . In 1987 he was involved in the recording of the score for Cry Freedom ; then he formed a quartet with Dave Bitelli and Nana Tsiboe ("Mbatanga Blue", 1988). In the late 1980s he accompanied the singer Carmel ( Set Me Free , 1989). He also performed with David Murray and the World Saxophone Quartet with the Mbizo project at the Moers Festival and at the North Sea Jazz Cape Town (there also with Louis Moholo ) and performed with Andy Sheppard , Jean Toussaint and Courtney Pine . He is also active as a pianist for the South African Gospel Singers and Pinise Saul .

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Lexical entry

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