The Thabani is another popular band from UK that is invited to perform in the Jazz Festival 2006. Actually, Thabani is the best soul band in UK.
The Thabani Groove Collective play with anything up to 12 musicians including fatback drums, vocals, hard funk guitars, percussion and sweet, sweet Fender Rhodes, all backed up by the tightest Brass Section in London village. All fronted by the legendary T. Nyoni
Tee Nyoni is basically the Band Leader. He is also the vocalist and the songwriter of the band. The Other band Members include Ross Hansford who plays drum, Si Wharry ( percussion and vibes player), Marcus Skinner ( on bass ), Colin Burstow (trombone ), Ben Price experts in playing guitar, Steve Watts enjoy keyboard playing, Andy McDonnell ( Sexophone, tenor/alto), Gina Clatworthy ( Sexophone, tenor/alto) and Dee Nyoni provides the background vocals.
Led by charismatic Zimbabwean singer and songwriter Tee Nyoni, together with a tight musical ensemble of brass, guitar, drums, African percussion and backing vocals, THABANI produce a classic ‘Soulful Wall Of Sound’, Tee brings the energy of a young ‘James Brown’ the voice of ‘Marvin Gaye’ and the songwriting influences of Curtis Mayfield and Fela Kuti!!
Thabani Band is greatly influenced by Curtis Mayfield, Stevie Wonder and Parliament. Hailing from West London, THABANI the Roots-Soul collective combine Soul, Afro and Groove influences to their potent mix of ‘brilliant front line’ tunes with a modern contemporary edge.
Due to the diversity of influences, Thabani play Soulgroove, Funk and Afro-beat along with chilled out Soul ballads (for the ladies). Tours so far have taken in all of the major Soul and Jazz Venues in London (Jazz Cafe, Borderline, Notting Hill Arts Club), various dates all over the UK and also gigs in Germany and Prague.
The band has already released their debut album ‘Mind is a Rebel’ in May, 2006 through Cargo Records and Ndebele Music and it is available online and in every record shop in the country.
Conscious lyrics to live by, fused with a passionate musical landscape, the THABANI band have earned a massive live following all over Europe with headline performances at The Jazz Cafe, Ronnie Scott’s and city tours in France, Germany, Holland and the Czech Republic.