Frank Paco - University of Cape Town

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.
About me
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Frank started playing drums at the tender age
of 11 in Mozambique, where he already gained
performance experience with friends and
school bands. He recalls making his own
drums and guitars out of oil canisters as a
child, as it was hard to find musical
instruments in a Mozambique oppressed by a
raging civil war. Despite the challenges,
however, Frank achieved true musical
greatness.
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.
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
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 1994 Frank Paco decided to further his
study in jazz by enrolling at the University of
Cape Town where he attained an Honours
Degree in Jazz Performance with distinction.
In his career as a session musician, Frank has
recorded on more than 40 albums, 10 of
which received awards and 4 were nominated.
Besides live performances Frank enjoys
teaching and conducting workshops around
schools in South Africa.
Discography
Artist
Album
Year
Artist
Album
1999
Loading Zone
Overdue
2007
Jeff Maluleke
Twist of Jeff
Virtual Jazz
Reality
2008
Dino Miranda
Moya wa
kaya
Space and
Consequence
2008
Moreira Project
Citizen of
the world
2008
Ivan Mazuze
Maganda
2009
Sange
Xola
2009
Rozanne
Gewaar
Rozanne
Gewaar
2010
Bokkie
Commercail
2011
Jimmy Dludlu
Tonota
2012
Yolanda Yawa
Yolanda
2012
Henrich Frans
2013
Jaco Maria
The Story
Teller
1999/2002 Virtual Jazz
Reality
Year
Artist
Album
1999
Jonas
Segwangwa
1986
Mapantsula
Mapantsula
1999
Amapondo
1986/1999
Mc Coy
Marrubata
Firebird/Phosa
nga semva
1999
Musa Manzini
New
Reflections
1988
Brenda
Fassie
Too late for
mama
2002
Gito Baloi
Herbs
1990
African Jazz African Jazz
Pioneers
Pioneers
2002
Uhambo
This Time
2003
Swazi Dlamimi
My First love
2003
Wanda Baloi
Voices
2003
Tucan Tucan
Xiluva
2004
Kunle
Beyond the
Borders
2013
Joao Cabral
To be
released
2005
Uhambo
Wonder Child
2013
2006
Tucan Tucan
Make a
difference
Omega
(Uganda/USA
Artitst)
To be
released
2007
Mimi Ntenjwa
Scence of my
soul
1998/2000/2001
Jimmy
Dludlu
Echoes from
the past Winds
of change
Essence or
rhythm
Afrocentric
Discography
1999/2002
Sheer
Sound All
Stars
Indibano
Dance with me
Live at the
Blues Room
3
Year
Art Ensemble
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,
such as Andy Narrel, Jimmy Dludlu, Allou April
to name a few.
The Art Ensemble has launch its first concert at
Nassau Centre in August 2011 where the band
enjoyed a standing ovation in the coversations
concert series.
This concert was followed by a performance at
the V & A Waterfront Amphitheatre where
the band enjoyed cheers from a large audience.
Other venues that hosted the band are Tagores,
Peter Cellars, Boo Radleys, Rainbow room,
Moyo and Kaleidoscope to name but a few.
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The music can be described as Nu-World Jazz.
An amalgamation of Jazz tones with its
African roots from East to West.
With high-energy rhythmic pulses and
enchanting melodies, Art ensemble paints a
musical landscape which offers a unique live
experience.
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