Blaze

Blaze is a band that serves all kind of events: from corporate parties, Weddings, Bartmitzvah, Barmitzvah, Birthday parties, etc

The Band was created with the purpose of providing audiences with the highest level of entertainment. Ranging from easy listening jazz background music to high energy (60’s, 70's, 80's and current) R&B, Rock-Pop-Disco, Latin dance music, and vibrant African music, BLAZE provides outmost excitement, getting everybody on the dance floor.

The band has been performing for numerous weddings and private events in venues such as:

• Mount Nelson Hotel
• Kirstenbosch Gardens' hall 
• Rotunda Bay Hotel 
• President Hotel 
• Cape Town International Convention Centre 
• Sheraton Arabella Hotel Cape Town and Kleimond
• Westin Grand
• Backsberg and Webersberg Wine Estate 
• Lord Charles Hotel 
• Fancourt Golf Estate 
• Erinvale Hotel 
• Vrede en Lust Wine Estate
• Diermersfontein Wine Estate
• Dimersdal Wine Estate
• Val de Vie Wine Estate
• Mountain Shadows' Wine Estate 

Recent high profile events include:

• Travel Corporation Gala Dinner 2010 at Green Point Stadium 
• Pick and Pay Management Function 2011 at V&A Waterfront
• Liberty Properties Networking Soiree 2011 at Cape Town International Convention Centre 
• Oasis Group Employee of the year awards ceremony 2011 at Westin Grand
• Cape Town Tourism day 2011 at V&A Waterfront
• Golden Valley Casino Long service Award function 2011
• Shoprite-Checkers Employee of the year awards 2011 at Diermersdal

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.

Other collaborative highlights include performances with internationally acclaimed South African-born LA-based guitarist / singer Jonathan Butler; Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela, Ragga Africa, an Indian-African collaboration that performed at Cape Town’s 2004 North Sea Jazz Festival; Award-winning guitarist Allou April and saxophonist Moreira Chonguiça; the highly acclaimed house music group Ananda Project from USA at the 2009 Cape Town International Jazz Festival; artists from USA, Norway and Israel at the Grahamstown Jazz Festival; British-born New York-based guitarist Ronny Jordan; Rabbi Jack Gabriels from Colorado, USA, performing Israeli folk music; New Yorker Monique Bingham, Norway-based award winner Ivan 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 Jazz Fest, Washington DC, New York, Switzerland’s Lugano Jazz Fest, Italy, France and Holland’s North Sea Jazz Fest just to name but a few.

 In 2000 Frank was invited to record with South Africa’s top musicians under the Sheer Sound Jazz Label, of which his composition Milagre was chosen for the music video. The group also won the South African Music Awards (SAMA), for the Best Contemporary Jazz Album and received an invitation to Den Hague to perform at the North Sea Jazz Festival in 2001.

In his career as a session musician, Frank has recorded on more than 40 albums, 10 of which received awards and 4 were nominated.

Innovative pianist, composer, arranger and singer Muriel Marco, embarked on a journey as young woman from Argentina to South Africa with the desire to explore and discover the roots of rhythm.She studied at the University of Cape Town completing her degree in composition and arrangement with distinction in Ethnomusicology.

Muriel has performed at renown festivals and events such as Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Villa Celimontana Jazz Festival (Rome), Jazzathon, Grahamstown Jazz festival, Verao Amarelo Jazz Festival and Tunduro Festvial (Mozambique), FIFA world cup 2010 final draw gala dinner, World Economic Forum Gala dinner, FIFA fan parks and fan Jols, Rocking the Daisies festival, to mention a few.

She has toured Southern African countries such as Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia, Tanzania and Kenya with Tucan Tucan, Carambola, Cuba Libre and Tren Latino Band. She also toured Abu Dhabi with Blaze band and Italy with Tucan Tucan.

Muriel is a prolific composer having composed for several projects including music albums of diverse genres, jingles and movie scoring.

Muriel, together with Ghalik Jacobs scored the music of Confessions of a Gambler, a movie premiered in Dubai, USA and South African in 2008. The music for this film won the SAFTA Golden Horn Award for best music composition.

She has composed and arranged most Tucan Tucan compositions:

Her composition 'Esa morena' was chosen finalist in the international Songwriting competition 2007.

'Esa Morena' and 'Si yo pudiera' were chosen for a TV add commercial of Proyect 34 - SouthAfrica / Argentina Theatre festival broadcast on Argentinian National television.

'Milele' and 'You can be wha't you want were included in "Glamour and Glory" German movie broadcast on the European network

Songs such as 'Ratanang', 'Slow Jam', 'Conga loca', 'Sizani' and 'Tiku la mina' had extensive radio airplay and were included in several compilations.

In 2009 she collaborated in the arrangements and production of Sange's debut album "Xola" and in 2010 Muriel wrote the string arrangement for Saudiq Khan's new album "Madiah".

Visit Muriel's site.

Guitarist and singer Jeremy Olivier was born and raised in Zimbabwe where his passion for guitar began, playing in a gigging rock band from the age of 14. In 1995, he decided to move to Cape Town in order to study at UCT’s College of Music, and graduated in 1999 with a BMus Honours in Jazz Performance.

He has performed all over South Africa and internationally at numerous shows, festivals and concerts such as Grahamstown Jazz Festival (2007); Standard Bank Joy of Jazz (2006, 2007); CT International Jazz Festival (2007); CT Jazzathon (2006, 2007); Leipzig International Jazz Festival, Germany (2007); Show at the Medinat Theatre, Dubai (2008); Berlin African Showcase, Germany (2010); Starlight Classics with the Cape Town Orchestra and Johnny Clegg (2009), Freshly Ground (2010) and Katherine Jenkins (2011); Cape Town International Jazz Festival with George Benson (2010) and performed at the Cape Town Stadium during the 2010 Fifa World Cup.

His repertoire is varied and he is a versatile musician and vocalist covering many different genres of music. His session work includes adverts for TV, backing vocals and guitar on various albums, and vocal sessions for Grammy-winning arranger and composer, Jeremy Lubbock.

In 2008 he co-composed the musical score and wrote original songs for an international animated movie, ‘The Lion of Judah’. He has also written music for a few local documentaries, working with Media Village, Cape Town. He composes and arranges music for Sunrise Production’s “Jungle Beat” series (as seen on tv) and has written and arranged the theme song for the new SA Rugby mascot, “Bokkie” as well as the “Sharkie”, for the Sharks Rugby Team.

Born in Johannesburg, Bev Scott-Brown’s interest in music was apparent at an early age.

Having taking music subjects at high school, Bev went to the University of Witwatersrand where she completed a bachelor’s degree in music with flying colours.

After a few appearances in musicals, theatre and opera performances, Bev was clear that her future lies in live singing with bands. Over the years she has gained vast experience performing with Rock, Pop and Jazz bands including the Johnny Cooper Orchestra.

Singer Bev Scott-Brown released her debut CD It’s the little things in July 2006.

"In many ways Scott-Brown's Debut album is a signpost on the journey the Cape Town-based singer has travelled and an indication of where she is going." - Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Who is Who Magazine -.

Versatile bassist, singer and composer Sammy Webber, started playing bass guitar at the age of 19 years.

Since 1982 Sammy has been performing with numerous bands including "Funtime" which backed popular South African artists touring throughout South Africa and neighbouring states,"U-Turn","Inside Out" and "Virtual Jazz Reality"(VJR) to mention a few.

With the latest he performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Cape Town, the Joy of jazz, the Heritage Jazz Fest in New Orleans and the Dubai Jazz Festival. He also toured Turkey and Tunisa with British Sax Player "Andrew Young".

He has released his solo album “Happy to be..” and is currently recording his second album to be released at the end of the year. Track "Dreams Fulphilled" from his debut album reached number one on Heart 104.9 fm Top 40 charts.