Frank Paco Art Ensemble Nu-World Jazz @ its best Frank Paco’s impressive career includes highlights such as 46664 Mandela AIDS concert performing with many of the world’s great musicians such as the legendary band “Queen”, Bono, Jimmy Cliff, Angelique Kidjo, Dave Stewart, Andrew Bonsu, Johnny Clegg, Brian May and Peter Gabriel. Frank started playing drums at the tender age Jazz Fest, Washington DC, New York, of 11 in Mozambique, where he already gained Switzerland’s Lugano Jazz Fest, Italy, France performance experience with friends and and Holland’s North Sea Jazz Fest just to name school bands. He recalls making his own but a few. drums and guitars out of oil canisters as a child, as it was hard to find musical instruments in a Mozambique oppressed by a In 1994 Frank Paco decided to further his raging civil war. Despite the challenges, study in jazz by enrolling at the University of however, Frank achieved true musical Cape Town where he attained an Honours greatness. Degree in Jazz Performance with distinction. Other collaborative highlights include In 2000 Frank was invited to record with performances with internationally acclaimed South Africa’s top musicians under the Sheer South African-born LA-based guitarist / singer Sound Jazz Label, of which his composition Jonathan Butler; Miriam Makeba, Hugh Milagre was chosen for the music video. The Masekela, Ragga Africa, an Indian-African group also won the South African Music collaboration that performed at Cape Town’s Awards (SAMA), for the Best Contemporary 2004 North Sea Jazz Festival; Award-winning Jazz Album and received an invitation to Den guitarist Allou April and saxophonist Moreira Hague to perform at the North Sea Jazz Chonguiça; the highly acclaimed house music Festival in 2001. group Ananda Project from USA at the 2009 Cape Town International Jazz Festival; artists In his career as a session musician, Frank has from USA, Norway and Israel at the recorded on more than 40 albums, 10 of Grahamstown Jazz Festival; British-born New which received awards and 4 were nominated. About me York-based guitarist Ronny Jordan; Rabbi Jack Gabriels from Colorado, USA, performing Besides live performances Frank enjoys Israeli folk music; New Yorker Monique teaching and conducting workshops around Bingham, Norway-based award winner Ivan schools in South Africa. Mazuze and Mozambican Orlando Venhereque at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Award winner Jimmy Dludlu with whom he toured USA, performed at the New Orleans 2 Year Artist Album Year Artist Album 1999 Loading Zone Overdue 2007 Jeff Maluleke Twist of Jeff 1999/2002 Virtual Jazz Virtual Jazz 2008 Dino Miranda Moya wa Discography Reality Reality kaya Space and 2008 Moreira Project Citizen of Consequence the world Year Artist Album 1999 Jonas 2008 Ivan Mazuze Maganda Segwangwa 2009 Sange Xola 1986 Mapantsula Mapantsula 1999 Amapondo 1986/1999 Mc Coy Firebird/Phosa 2009 Rozanne Rozanne 1999 Musa Manzini New Gewaar Gewaar Marrubata nga semva Reflections 1988 Brenda Too late for 2010 Bokkie 2002 Gito Baloi Herbs Commercail Fassie mama 2011 Jimmy Dludlu Tonota 1990 African Jazz African Jazz 2002 Uhambo This Time Pioneers Pioneers 2012 Yolanda Yawa Yolanda 2003 Swazi Dlamimi My First love 1998/2000/2001 Jimmy Echoes from 2012 Henrich Frans Dludlu the past Winds 2003 Wanda Baloi Voices of change 2013 Jaco Maria The Story 2003 Tucan Tucan Xiluva Teller Essence or 2004 Kunle Beyond the rhythm 2013 Joao Cabral To be Borders released DiscographyAfrocentric 2005 Uhambo Wonder Child 2013 Omega To be 1999/2002 Sheer Indibano 2006 Tucan Tucan Make a (Uganda/USA released Sound All Artitst) Stars Dance with me difference Live at the 2007 Mimi Ntenjwa Scence of my Blues Room soul 3 Frank’s most recent solo project is the Frank Paco’s Art Ensemble, for which he is currently recording a debut album. His original compositions feature some of the most prominent artists he has worked with to date, Art Ensemble such as Andy Narrel, Jimmy Dludlu, Allou April to name a few. The Art Ensemble has launch its first concert at The music can be described as Nu-World Jazz. Nassau Centre in August 2011 where the band An amalgamation of Jazz tones with its enjoyed a standing ovation in the coversations African roots from East to West. concert series. With high-energy rhythmic pulses and This concert was followed by a performance at enchanting melodies, Art ensemble paints a the V & A Waterfront Amphitheatre where musical landscape which offers a unique live the band enjoyed cheers from a large audience. experience. Other venues that hosted the band are Tagores, Peter Cellars, Boo Radleys, Rainbow room, Moyo and Kaleidoscope to name but a few. 4 5 .