Bänz Oester & The Rainmakers South Africa Tour [Makhanda, etc.]
Bänz Oester & The Rainmakers return to South Africa in June-July 2023 for a tour with concerts in Makhanda, Johannesburg and Cape Town. The Rainmakers have been around in an almost unchanged lineup since 2012. Since their last tour in South African in 2014, the band is excited to share its current repertoire which includes original compositions by all four band members, as well as new material from their forthcoming album “Gratitude”, which will be released in September 2023.
The Rainmakers is bassist and bandleader Bänz Oester and tenor saxophonist Javier Vercher from Switzerland together with pianist Afrika Mkhize and drummer Ayanda Sikade from South Africa. Despite geographical distance, a deep musical and personal bond and friendship has developed between the musicians. As a close-knit group, their individual strengths work together to form a collective energy. The band’s sound incorporates African polyrhythms, blues patterns, post-bop jazz, mixed with spellbinding improvisation from each musician.
BIOGRAPHIES
Bandleader Bänz Oester (bass) has been active in the Swiss and international jazz and improvised music scenes since the early eighties as a member of numerous projects on his own or as part of collective groups. Currently, he plays with his quartet The Rainmakers, with the WHO-Trio that includes Gerry Hemingway and Michel Wintsch, in trios with Hans Feigenwinter and Norbert Pfammatter, and with Alvin Schwaar and Noé Franklé, and as a sideman with Donat Fisch Trio, Christoph Grab’s Reflections, Marcus Wyatt Quartet and others.
Javier Vercher (tenor sax) was born in Madrid and currently lives in Valencia. After classical clarinet studies he went on to study at the Berklee College in Boston. Back in Spain he won the Tete Montoliu Best Breakthrough Award in 2007. He has released a series of albums under his own name, and collaborates on stage and in studio with Larry Grenadier, Lionel Loueke, Billy Hart, Jorge Rossy, Bob Moses, Robert Glasper and many others.
South African pianist Afrika Mkhize lives in Johannesburg. He has gained a high reputation for his distinctive piano-playing, as a versatile producer and as musical director in Miriam Makeba’s Band.
Johannesburg-based drummer Ayanda Sikade has been playing with many famous South-African musicians such as Feya Faku, Bheki Mseleku, Nduduzo Makhathini, Robbie Jansen, Barney Rachabane, Darius Brubeck and many others. He was also a member of legendary saxophonist Zim Ngqawana’s band.
