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Since moving to South Africa in 2000, Joel Klein has made his mark on the South African music scene as one of the most sought after lead guitarists and producers around. Among others, he’s played and continues to play lead guitar for the likes of award-winning group Malaika, Suthukasi Agosi and Lebo Mathosa. A self-taught musician, Klein grew up moving between Sweden, Paris and New York and gained experience playing with jazz bands and African musicians who were working in Europe.
Klein first came to Jozi in 1996 to work on Namibian reggae artist Ras Sheehama’s first album and loved the vibe and the place. He says, “ African music inspires me as well as the possibility of mixing it with other cultures. I’d also like to revive the playing of true live music.” Klein has brought his guitar-playing talents to albums by Jabu Khanyile, Miriam Makeba, Choppa and African Cream’s Lullabies from Mother Africa to name a few. He’s also produced albums by Jabu Nkosi, Sipho Dube as well as being part of a collective of producers called the Afronauts who created The African Lounge Experience. “It’s great to work with African Cream music,” says Klein, “ they give us a lot of freedom to create our vision.”
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One of the country's most accomplished music producers, Khomo has won numerous awards including a Vita Award (1989) for the soundtrack to the film Mapantsula, as well as SAMA awards for Best Song and Best Producer twice (1995 & 1996). He's worked with Norwegian singer Marianne Antonsen, producer Eric Hillestad and he toured Norway in 1996. Khomo also performed with acclaimed music group Stimela in India for the Dalai Lama, with Gospel singer Joan Osborne as well at the reopening of the Alexandria Library Egypt in 2002.
Among many others he has produced albums for Jabu Khanyile, Linda Kekana, Jeff Maluleke and Simphiwe Dana and remixed Wendy Oldfield. Khomo is also the creator of the current themes for the popular soapie Generations and Take 5. He continues to play with the world-renowned band Stimela. Khomo produced Drummers from Mother Africa.
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Music producer and sound engineer Ian Osrin is the owner of the acclaimed sound providers, Digital Cupboard Studios in Johannesburg. He has engineered and produced many of African Cream Music's albums. Considered to be one of the best in the business, Osrin has worked with some of the most prestigious names in music including Bayete, Jabu Khanyile, Malo We, Mike Makhalemele, Yvonne Chaka Chaka and Miriam Makeba. First gaining recognition on the South African music scene with the group Pocket Lips and their 80s hit It's Amazing, since then Osrin has been involved with some of the best albums in the country. He says, " I'm always looking for new and fresh ways to present African music."
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Multi-talented Abrahamse is one of the country's best composers, producers, arrangers, bassists and programmers. Born in Cape Town, he studied the violin from the age of five, and spent his teenage years in Zambia. There he began playing guitar, moving towards the electric base. Abrahamse started playing professionally in London in the early 70s where he worked with exiled South African musicians such as Dudu Pukwana, Louis Moholo and West African musicians including Ghanaian Afro-Rock group Osibisa, Nigerian Drummer Remi Kabaka and Traffic percussionist Rebop Kwaku. He worked as both a live musician, touring the UK and Europe as well as a studio session player.
In 1975, Abrahamse worked with many Zambian artists such as Afro-Rock outfit Madizi A Moyo, Peter Lungu and Playwright Masautso Phiri. In Nigeria, Abrahamse also worked with the Fela Kuti Band among others. Cape Town in the early 80s saw him working with many top South African musicians including Bright Blue.
Since 1991, upon his return to South Africa, Abrahamse has been involved with live work and studio projects with Paul Hanmer, Jethro Shasha, E'Smile, Phrophets of Da City, Mike Makhalemele, Barry van Zyl, Glorai Bosman, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, McCoy Marubata, Gomorra, Bayete, Johnny Clegg, Johanned Kerkorrel and African Cream artist Choppa's hit song Maragrida (1999) and his albums Batukeiro and most recent album Waga Waga (2004).
The founder and director of Afrika Flava Productions, Abrahamse also composes and produces music for TV, film and modern dance. He was involved with Music's Lullabies from Mother Africa, The Great South African Trip, Earscapes and produced the best-selling The Winds of Change, which commemorates over 50 years of South African music from the struggle through to liberation.
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Producers
