Bänz Oester & The Rainmakers

Previously, most South-African musicians fled apartheid into exile. The new generation, on the other hand, centers its life largely around the homeland but maintains a lively exchange with more northern jazz scenes. The »Rainmakers« are a perfect example of this: Band leader Bänz Oester and saxophonist Nicolas Masson come from Switzerland, and pianist Afrika Mkhize and drummer Ayanda Sikade are among the new high flyers from South Africa.

The four of them form a single whole that pushes boundaries and develops its music together. With the musical song »My Favourite Things«, John Coltrane provided impressive proof that a catchy melody is an especially good basis for reaching Jazz nirvana. What the »Rainmakers« get up to with the legendary Jacques Brel chanson »Amsterdam«and the evergreen hit »Dr Schacher Seppli« is no less breathtaking.

// bass – Bänz Oester
// tenor saxophone – Nicolas Masson
// piano – Afrika Mkhize
// drummer – Ayanda Sikade