With musical influences from Africa, India and Scandinavia, the quartet combines traditional rhythms and contemporary harmonies to produce a richly textured acoustic world beat. Their debut album is recorded and will be released during fall 2017. This international collaboration brings together four multi-instrumentalists – an innovative lead guitarist, a melody-driven bassist and two intuitive, dexterous percussionists whose instruments range from Arabic to Indian, Latin American and North African. Each band member brings with him a distinct sound, an impressive performance history and international experience. The quartet comprises: Reza Khota (South Africa) guitar: An admirer of John McLaughlin and John Schofield, Reza’s strings produce a crossover between east and west, with influences of jazz and classical. He’s worked with South Africas finest musicians, among them Kesivan Naidoo, Shane Cooper and Buddy Wells, and recently taught masterclasses at the University of Toronto. Schalk Joubert (South Africa) bass: One of South Africas busiest session musicians, Schalk is a product of his cultural heritage. He’s able to articulate South African melodies, West African grooves and harmony in the European tradition to produce a cohesive, melodic sound. He’s performed, produced and recorded with the likes of David Kramer, Nico Carstens and Michelle Shocked. Fredrik Gille (Sweden) cajon, frame drums, percussion: Fredrik has collected and mastered a variety of percussion instruments from all over the world, with Middle Eastern drumming being his expertise. His sound is influenced by everything from Arabic rhythms to Latin music. He’s worked with many international bands, among them Swiss composer Andreas Vollenweider, Algerian vocalist Karima Nayt, Swedish trio Bazar Blå, Tunisian virtuosos Amine & Hamza as well as Swiss-based dance- company Flamencos en Route. Ronan Skillen (Ireland) tabla, hybrid percussion kit, didgeridoo: Ronan is inspired by the aesthetic of record label ECM, and music from Mali to Memphis and Mumbai. His flair for improvisation began with the didgeridoo, and his later schooling in Indian classical music and wide palette of textural percussive sounds combine to create a rich soundscape. He’s toured with Rodriguez and Johnny Clegg, and performed with Manu Dibango among others. Ancient Agents invite you on a musical journey that bridges cultures, combining grooves from north India to Latin America with Afro beats and polyrhythms – ancient sounds telling a modern tale. Source: http://www.ancientagents.com/
Based in Cape Town, South Africa, the multinational members of Ancient Agents embrace the entire world as their neighborhood in this acoustic world blend. Reza Khota (guitars) is from South Africa: he has worked with many South African musicians (e.g. Kesivan Naidoo, Shane Cooper and Buddy Wells) and takes inspiration from jazz guitar modernists like John McLaughlin and John Scofield. Bassist Schalk Joubert is the other South African in the band: one of the busiest South African session players, he ...
-Gwen Ansell - SA music veteran, journalist.
'A territory that has abolished musical border-posts, but is deeply grounded in and respectful of different musical legacies; a place that’s simultaneously nowhere and everywhere’.
-Kevin Naidoo ‘The Orbit’:
‘You guys produced an original and fresh sound. It was exceptional. Let me know if you’d like to come back and play the Orbit again. Anytime !’
-Paul Kahanovitz ‘Slow Life’:
‘A highlight for me and the most amazing concert I’ve ever been part of organizing. The music has emotional intelligence, beautifully lyrical and simply melodic as well as being incredibly virtuosic’.
-Alan Webster ‘NYJF and Stirling High’:
‘Ancient Agents wowed the audience last night with their incredible musicality
-Gwen Ansell - SA music veteran, journalist.
'A territory that has abolished musical border-posts, but is deeply grounded in and respectful of different musical legacies; a place that’s simultaneously nowhere and everywhere’.
-Kevin Naidoo ‘The Orbit’:
‘You guys produced an original and fresh sound. It was exceptional. Let me know if you’d like to come back and play the Orbit again. Anytime !’
-Paul Kahanovitz ‘Slow Life’:
‘A highlight for me and the most amazing concert I’ve ever been part of organizing. The music has emotional intelligence, beautifully lyrical and simply melodic as well as being incredibly virtuosic’.
-Alan Webster ‘NYJF and Stirling High’:
‘Ancient Agents wowed the audience last night with their incredible musicality. A great night out! Thanks to Concerts SA for sponsoring their national tour.’
-Satish Singh ‘L’aperitivo’:
‘You guys have tapped into something that is really potent, and what the planet requires a lot more of. I see it every day, being a doctor… All people really need and want is more light and sound. You guys have access to that, and are able to channel it so effortlessly. Thank you for coming and sharing this with us.’
-Carsten Rasch ‘Blah Blah Bar’:
‘A wonderful way to end an era at Blah Blah and the perfect transition for the beginning of a new chapter. Incredible music.’
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