Pinise Saul & Lucky Ranku
PINISE SAUL AND LUCKY RANKU - DUO
PINISE SAUL AND LUCKY RANKU - BAND
Pinise Saul, vocals | Lucky Ranku, guitar | Kaz Kasozi, keyboards | Greg Bonnie, tenor saxophone | Joseph Hlengetwa, bass | Wesley Gibbens, drums | Koko Kayinda, percussion
“Undisputed Queen of Afro-Jazz” The Guardian
"Lucky Ranku is arguably Africa's greatest jazz guitarist" The South African Times
The creative power behind The South African Gospel Singers, The African Jazz Allstars, Township Express vocalist Pinise Saul and guitarist Lucky Ranku present a stripped down musical adventure in duo or small group formation. In both Duo and Group project Lucky Ranku’s signature guitar provides exhilarating support to Pinise Saul’s soulful voice bringing their songs alive in a remarkable way.
Pinise Saul
When the Guardian referred to the voice and leader of The South African Gospel Singers, Pinise Saul as "the queen of afro-jazz" it was a belated tribute to one of the most original artists from Africa. For thirty years, alongside Dudu Pukwana, Hugh Masekela, Johnny Dyani, Chris McGregor, Lucky Ranku, David Murray, she has championed the fusion of African rhythms and jazz vocal improvisations.
Pinise Saul was the first soloist for the musical Ipi Ntombi, featured singer with Jabula, Zila, Brotherhood ofBreath, Fast Colour, Township Express and more recently Mbizo with David Murray and Lucky Ranku.
Her career took a back seat during the fight against apartheid. She was one of the leading musicians alongside fellow South African exiles Dudu Pukwana, Johnny Dyani, Lucky Ranku, Mongezi Feza and Julian Bahula who used music as a weapon to fight apartheid. During this period she performed all over the world for The African National Congress, they were the first African Group to tour Cuba. Major concerts included Boston University Stadium with Bob Marley and Patti La Belle, The Nelson Mandela concert at Wembley Stadium and the sound track of the film Cry Freedom.
Pinise has appeared and featured in many TV and Radio programs and documentaries on the fight against apartheid. Pinise Saul has performed at many festivals including North Sea, Moers, Angouleme, Avignon, Banlieux Bleues, Helsinki, Limoges, Ljubljana, Madrid, Marlborough, Marseilles, Murcia, Nantes, Newcastle, North Sea, Reims, San Sebastien, Stockholm, Willisau, Zurich, Bath, Belfast, Berlin, Brecon, Burghausen, Cheltenham, Exeter, Copenhagen, Cork, Edinburgh, Hanover, Capetown, Johannesburg and many others.
Pinise Saul's return to South Africa after years in exile has proved to be a spiritual and musical journey back to her roots. Reconnecting with South Africa has given her song writing a new vitality. She is a remarkable singer who fuses African traditional harmonies and contemporary rhythms to create a style that is uniquely hers. Her soulful and passionate voice, her incredible range, her brilliant compositions and her inspired improvisations make her performances an unforgettable experience.
Lucky Ranku
"Lucky Ranku is arguably Africa's greatest jazz guitarist" The South African Times
" exuberant and energetic, sophisticated and stylish, full of passion and soul, melody and strength, their rhythms seductive and irresistible, defying listeners to keep their feet still". World Music Magazine
Lucky Ranku, regarded by many as Africa’s greatest jazz guitarist, possesses a fearsome technique and dynamic attack on the fret board quite unlike any other African guitarist. His multi-faceted music is high on quality and ideas and with his groups he creates music that stirs the heads, the hands and most definitely the feet.
For 40 years LUCKY RANKU has been at the heart of South African music and politics. He was part of the group of great artists alongside Dudu Pukwana, Johnny Dyani, Chris McGregor, Jonas Gwangwa, Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Julian Bahula and others who underpinned their music with a political stance.
During the anti-apartheid period Lucky Ranku was the musical director to The African National Congress Choir that toured the world on behalf of the ANC. Lucky Ranku also collaborated on the all star South African Orchestra that appeared at the Wembley concert celebrating the release of Nelson Mandela.
Lucky Ranku's signature guitar sound changed African guitar forever. With The Malombo Jazz Group in the 60s and Jabula in the 70s he laid the foundation for what became known as “the township beat”. Extensive touring and massive success all around the world with the African super - group Jabula followed.
In the 80s he became a featured soloist with Dudu Pukwana's Zila and The Johnny Dyani Group. Since 1990 Lucky Ranku has been the musical director of THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOSPEL SINGERS where he continues to achieve world-wide acclaim for his deft arrangements of Pinise Saul's compositions and for his brilliant guitar lines.
He co-leads the TOWNSHIP EXPRESS with Pinise Saul, THE AFRICAN JAZZ ALLSTARS, THE SOUTH AFRICAN GOSPEL SINGERS and founded as well as leads THE AFRICAN GUITAR MASTERS with Ghanaian Kari Bannerman and Sierra Leonian Abdul Tee-Jay. Lucky Ranku is admired for his brilliant guitar style that is so uniquely his own and for his highly original compositions and arrangements.
He wrote the music to the award winning film "A Solitary Confinement", he is the featured soloist on the sound track of the film "Cry Freedom". He collaborated, recorded and toured with the likes of David Murray, Hugh Masekela, Dudu Pukwana, Chris McGregor, Johnny Dyani, Jonas Gwangwa, Julian Bahula, Louis Moholo and Mike Oldfield.
Recordings of Pinise Saul and Lucky Ranku:
RAINBOW PEOPLE/The South African Gospel Singers/JK007/2003
EXPLOSION OF HARMONIES/South African Gospel Singers/JK006/2000
FISHBONE/Lucky Ranku/Pinise Saul/Township Express/JK 005/1998
COSMICS CHAPTER 90/Dudu Pukwana and ZILA/released as AH UM 005/1990
ZILA 86/Dudu Pukwana and ZILA/ZL 3/1986
LIFE IN BRACKNELL AND WILLISAU/Dudu Pukwana and ZILA/ZL 2/1983
Selective recordings of Lucky Ranku as guest artist:
Dave Chambers - Afro Blue (1998, DC001)
Gail Thompson - Jazz Africa (1997, GT)
Byron Wallen - Earth Roots (Melt 20001997)
Nana Tsiboe - Asem Ni (1996, World Circuit)
Dick Heckstall-Smith - Celtic Steppes (1995, 33 Jazz)
South African Friends - Sangena (1992, AA Records)
Live - Harambe Africa (1989, WOW)
Cry Freedom - Cry Freedom Sound Track (1989, EMI)
Winston Mankunku - Crossroads (1986, Nkoma)
The South African Exiles - Thunderbolt (1986, Pam)
Jazz Afrika - African Sounds For Mandela (1983, Tsafrika)
Jazz Afrika - Son Of The Soil (1982, Plane)
Jabula - Jabula With Me (1982, Plane)
Jabula - African Soil (1979, Plane)
Jabula - Afrika Awake (1978, Varagram)
Mike Oldfield - Ommadon (1977, Virgin)
Jabula - Thunder In Our Hearts (1976, Caroline)
V (1975, Virgin)
Jabula (1974, Caroline)
Music of the Spirits (1971, Gallotone)
The Malombo Jazz Men - Malombo Men (1964, Gallotone)
See also: The African Jazz Allstars, The South African Gospel Singers, The African Guitar Masters
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