TRADEWINDS
Based in Johannesburg
Tradewinds specializes in Corporate Functions/Events, Weddings, Barmitzvahs, etc. Their repertoire includes Jazz, Blues, R&B, Continental, Rock & Roll, Party Music and German and Jewish Traditional music performed instrumentally and vocally. Some of the band's performances include the German Beer Festival for the German Consulate at The Polana Hotel in Mozambique, Year-End Functions for Fedsure Health (Sun City Superbowl), Discovery Health, etc., as well as Cocktail Functions for companies like BOE Bank and performances at the Annual Scottish Ball.
Tradewinds have also worked in places like the Beacon Isle Hotel, Royal Swazi Sun, Holiday Inn Gabarone, La Montagne in Ballito and The Polana Hotel in Mozambique. The band is flexible to suit your particular budget and consists of either 4, 3 or 2 members, or Jo is able to perform solo.
MEMBERS:
JO SAX (sax, flute, guitar, keyboards and vocals)
Not only does Jo Sax look like Sean Connery, but he plays a killer sax too! He sings, plays the flute, guiter, alto-, tenor- and soprano-sax and keyboards.
Jo was born in Dresden, East Germany. Later he toured Germany and Europe with professional show bands. Since his arrival in South Africa in 1974, he has worked both the Southern Sun and Holiday Inn International Cabaret circuits. Jo was the founder member of the band "Capricorn", which backed international artists such as Richard Loring, Diane Chandler, Lovelace Watkins, Dicky Henderson, Des O'Connor, Karin Nelson, Tommy Hunt and other well-known artists. Jo also toured with the showband "Scott Free" in the Gloria Gaynor and Tina Turner shows as supporting act. In 1980, he established "Tradewinds" jazz and dance band.
After a break, working as Music Producer for the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation from 1984 to 1989, Jo resumed his professional musical work in Johannesburg as a freelance musician. He worked with bands such as "Vinnie & the Viscounts", Johnny Fourie, Dennis East, "Rythm-Method", Mike Faure, "Soul Purpose", "Havana Gas", various jazz bands and the "Lolly Peterson Band", to name a few. Various TV appearances and studio recordings were done in between his normal working schedules. Jo has recorded 2 solo sax CD's with Francois Roos; "In the Mood to Dance" and "Rio by Night".
Jo works as a solo act with backing tracks, or with a live band according to customer's specs. With his experience as musician and bandleader, he can confidently assure success in creating the right atmosphere for any function. His repertoire covers jazz blues, R & B, continental, rock & roll, pop, party music, German and Jewish traditional music performed instrumentally and vocally.
HAZEL (vocals and harmony)
Hazel started her professional singing career with a dance band called "Wow", performing in clubs such as Banbury Cross, Senior Frog, Bourbon Street, etc., as one of two frontline singers. Their repertoire mainly consisted of dance & party music, pop, rock & roll and some Latino numbers. The band also played at Sun City's "Valley of the Waves" for a three-month contract period as well as at the Emerald Casino at the Vaal River (also on contract basis).
Hazel's joined Tradewinds in 2000 as a frontline singer. She was introduced to Jo Sax, via a mutual musician friend. She sings dance numbers as well as blues and jazz for the band. Songs like "Cry me a River" or "The Lady Wants To know" have afforded her plenty of admirers. Together, Hazel and Jo have done quite a number of German gigs as well.
COLIN (sax and vocals)
Ask any South African soul fan to name the top homegrown outfits and THE ROCKETS are sure to come up. Originally from Cape Town, the band established an enthusiastic fan base not only in the Mother City but also throughout the county, seducing listeners with irresistible grooves and velvet vocals. From 1971 to 1987, Frontman Colin “Bones” Delight provided lead vocals for the Rockets cementing the loyalty of fans and, along the way, sharing the stage with artists such as Jonathan Butler, Ronnie Joyce, Lionel Petersen, Richard Jon Smith, and touring in support of Percy Sledge, Curtis Mayfield, Tavares, Hughes Corporation and the O-Jays. During this time he was one of the first South African artists to appear at the Sun City Superbowl, in support of Leo Sayer.
In 1987, having decided to settle in Johannesburg and the Rockets returning to Cape Town, Colin joined the group “909”. The band played as a resident band in Spats at the Sandton Sun Hotel until the closure of the pub. From there he and a fellow 909 member formed C & T Machine. As a two piece band they played clubs gigs, corporate functions, private functions and weddings with great success.
Colin, via Mathambo Music, released a first solo album aptly titled “Soul Survivor” in 1999 which features ten tracks including two S.A. composed songs and eight “classic” covers, chosen both for their timeless appeal and their ability to showcase Colin’s rich, soulful voice.
During 2000 Colin freelanced and performed with various bands including Money for Jam, Tradewinds and GAP. With Tradewinds they had a succesful spint at the Polana Hotel in Maputo during the Beer Festival. Colin fronted with Money for Jam at the Le Meridien in Dubai to do the New Year function which was extremely successful.
In December 2000, Colin joined Prime Time to do a contract at the Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza in Dubai. The band played at the Med Restaurant and Bar for this period. He returned to do a further contract in late 2000/200. In 2002 Colin did a further contract at the Jazz Bar in Abu Dhabi at the Hilton Hotel with great success.
PAKO VILAKAZI (sax and vocals)
Pako Vilakazi is this millennium's brand new superstar. This talented youngster from Atteridgeville in Pretoria is destined to go places!
Pako started singing before he could even talk. In primary school he participated in musical concerts and taught himself to play piano by ear. He travelled to Japan and Belgium with a musical cultural exchange group called "Earth Harmony", doing charity concerts. In Japan, a jazz band spotted Pako. This youth's talent must have impressed them because they subsequently donated a piano to him.
In 2001 he participated in the Yamaha Young Talent Search competition and came 1st in the Instrument Section. Pako has already been seen doing highlight spots at up-market corporate functions like the J&B Awards, Sentech Gala Dinner, a headline spot at an entertainment company launch in July 2002 and more. He was also invited to perform at the South African Week in Iran for a week in September 2002.
