Sunsplash Quartet

A lively set from newly formed quartet ‘Sunsplash’ playing township jazz. Pianist Philip Clouts has assembled a set which features music from the greats of South Africa including Abdullah Ibrahim’s breakthrough hit ‘Mannenberg’, Miriam Makeba’s ‘Click Song’ and tunes by Dudu Pukwana and Hugh Masakela.

The band features saxophonist Neil Maya, who was praised by the Teignmouth Jazz Festival for his “electrifying performance with crisp melody lines and improvisation,” plus Ben Taylor on bass and Coach York on drums.

Philip Clouts was born in Cape Town and has loved South African jazz from childhood. The music has influenced his own playing and composing in worldbeat jazz group Zubop and more recently in the Philip Clouts Quartet. “It’s a great pleasure to re-visit some of my original sources of inspiration for this concert” says Clouts. “We’ll be playing pieces that connect directly to the audience, very melodic and with catchy rhythms”

“Emotionally-felt, highly listenable melodies and improvisations which colourfully lift the spirits” Adrian Pallant

‘Hits an authentic groove and holds it, building successfully as Hugh Masakela or Abdullah Ibrahim’s bands do, underpinned with a rhythmic firmness and drive that carries everything forward with zest.’

Alyn Shipton, Gramophone

For more information visit http://speakeasytorquay.com/