BIOGRAPHY
Band leader, George Mari has an
MA Mus (Jazz Composition and Arranging) from the University of Natal. He
teaches part-time at the Durban University of Technology and the University
of KwaZulu-Natal.
In 1995, while studying at UND, he was awarded a scholarship to study
trumpet under the tutorship of world-renowned trumpeter Arturo Sandoval
at Florida International University, Miami, USA. He also had the opportunity
to study with South Africa’s legendary Hugh Masekela who was the
UND “Artist-in-Residence” for several months.
Although his first love is jazz, he has appeared in a wide range of
musical settings including the concert stage, musical productions at venues
such as The Cellar , the Playhouse
Theatre and the Barnyard
Theatre (Boogie Wonderland, La Vida). He was the leader of the
popular Durban dance-band The Belltones.
George has worked as a trumpeter,
pianist, composer and arranger in Durban for several years and his own
band GMQ (The George Mari Quartet) has
been instrumental in bringing his compositions to life, by performing them
regularly at local Jazz venues. He has performed at the Grahamstown Arts
Festival for several years, his favourite performance being Steve Dyer’s
New Directions in South African Music.
He is also involved in several community Arts projects and is/has been
a member of the teaching staff for the Grahamstown Schools Festival, VUKA
Arts Project (Bloemfontein) and the UKUSA Arts Programme (Durban).
George released his debut album entitled 'Syringa Avenue' in
2003 – all original material which featured Roland Moses (piano), Bongani
Sokhela (Bass) and Bruce Baker
(Drums).
In January 2006 George released
his 2nd album, My Mecca, which features Melvin
Peters (Piano), Bongani Sokhela
(Bass), Bruce Baker (Drums), Debbie
Mari (Vocals) and George Mari (Trumpet)
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