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BLAZE
Consisting of some of Cape Town's most accomplished musicians, BLAZE is a function band with great
substance. Suitable for a range of event types, from corporate and private events and parties, to weddings
and Bar Mitzvahs, Blaze's repertoire ranges from easy listening jazz background music to high energy (60’s, 70's
80's and current) R & B, Rock-Pop-Disco, Latin dance music, and vibrant African music. Their high-energy
renditions of hits and covers never fail to fill up the dance floor.
The band has performed at numerous corporate and private functions at venues such as the Mount Nelson,
Kirstenbosch, Rotunda at the Bay Hotel, President Hotel, the Cape Town International Convention Centre,
Westin Grand, Arabella Sheraton Kleinmond, Backsberg and Webersberg Wine Estates, Lord Charles Hotel,
Fancourt Golf Estate, and Erinvale Hotel, to mention a few.
Recent high profile events include Travel Corporation Gala Dinner 2010 at Green Point Stadium, Pick and Pay
Management Function 2011, Liberty Properties Networking Soiree 2011 at Cape Town International Convention
Centre and Oasis Group Employee of the year awards ceremony 2011.
MEMBERS
Frank Paco
Renowned drummer, percussionist and singer Frank Paco holds an Honours' Degree in jazz Performance with
distinction from the University of Cape Town. He has worked with bands like Sakhile, Loading Zone, Virtual Jazz
Reality, Sheer Sound All Stars and great artists such as Jimmy Dludlu, Miriam Makeba, Brenda Fassie, Judith
Sephuma, Hugh Masekela and Jonathan Butler, amongst others. He is also an experienced session musician,
having played on more than 20 albums for artists like Jimmy Dludlu, Mc Coy Marrubata, Sheer Sound All Stars,
Musa Manzini, Wanda Baloyi, Jonas Segwangwa and Gito Baloi, to name a few.
Frank has also participated on major festivals such as the North Sea Jazz Festival at the Hague for four
consecutive years, and the New Orleans Jazz Fest, amongst others international festivals. He has also taken
part in the 46664 Mandela AIDS Concert playing alongside the band Queen and backing artists such as
Jimmy Cliff, Anastacia, Angelique Kidjo, Youssou N' Dour, Dave Stewart, Andrews Bonsu, Johnny Clegg, Roger
Taylor, Brian May, Peter Gabriel and Bono, amongst other international artists.
Besides his drumming, Frank's charismatic voice can be heard on the Coca-Cola Add "I am going home" on a
worldwide broadcast.
Muriel Marco
Innovative pianist, composer, arranger and singer Muriel Marco, embarked as young woman on a journey
from Argentina to South Africa with the desire to explore and discover the roots of rhythm. She studied at the
University of Cape Town, completing her degree in composition and arrangement with distinction in
Ethnomusicology.
Muriel is a founding member of world music afro-tropical band Tucan Tucan, and has written and arranged
most of the original music. With Tucan Tucan, she has performed at numerous festivals such as the North Sea
Jazz Festival, The Jazzathon, The Villa Celimontana Jazz Festival, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and
the Joy of Jazz International Festival to mention a few.
Muriel also creates jingles for radio stations and has experience in movie scoring having scored, together with
Ghalik Jacobs, the music for "Confessions of a gambler" movie which premiered in Dubai, North America and
South Africa in 2008. They went on to win the Golden Horn for the "best music composition award" from the
South African Film and Television Awards.
Muriel's silky voice can be heard on Tucan Tucan's latest release "Make a difference" as well as in the "Hope for
Aids" album. ‘Esa Morena’, composed by her and Frank Paco and sung in Spanish by Muriel, was chosen
finalist in the International songwriting competition 2008.
Sammy Webber
Versatile bassist, singer and composer Sammy Webber started playing bass guitar at the age of 19 years.
Since 1982 Sammy has been performing with numerous bands including "Funtime", which backed popular
South African artists touring throughout South Africa and neighbouring states,"U-Turn","Inside Out" and "Virtual
Jazz Reality"(VJR) to mention a few. With VJR he performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Cape Town, the
Joy of Jazz, the Heritage Jazz Fest in New Orleans and the Dubai Jazz Festival. He also toured Turkey and
Tunisa with British Sax Player "Andrew Young".
Sammy has released his solo album “Happy to be..” and is currently recording his second album to be
released at the end of the year. The track "Dreams Fulphilled" from his debut album reached number one on
Heart 104.9 fm Top 40 charts.
Bev Scott-Brown
Born in Johannesburg, vocalist Bev Scott-Brown’s interest in music was apparent at an early age, and she went
on to the University of Witwatersrand where she completed a bachelor’s degree in music with flying colours.
After a few appearances in musicals, theatre and opera performances, it was clear to Bev that her future lies
in live singing with bands. Over the years she has gained vast experience performing with Rock, Pop and Jazz
bands, including the Johnny Cooper Orchestra.
In July 2006, she released her dabut album It’s the little things.
Jeremy Olivier
Guitarist and singer Jeremy Olivier, a native of Zimbabwe, has a degree in Jazz Performance from the
University of Cape Town. His background is mostly jazz, rock and folk. He has appeared at major festivals
around the country (including Joy of Jazz, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and the Standard band
Jazz Festival) with artist such as Michael Blake, Basil Moses, Len Richie and Shannon Mowday.