Blu Bam-Boo

Blu BamBoo is a band unequalled in the South African music industry for its professionalism, versatility, presentation and musicianship. The group incorporates the renowned talents of Chanelle Davids (vocals), Nigel Morkel (Vocals), Brendan Ross (Alto Sax, Vocals & Keyboards), Denny Lalouette (Bass), Neill Ettridge (Drums) and Sydney Mavundla (Trumpet)

Blu BamBoo features the most extensive repertoire of music available with styles ranging from current Pop/Dance to Smooth Jazz & Latin, Disco, Rock & Roll and R&B as well as South African Jazz and Kwaito.
Additionally, the band is frequently booked as a stand-alone backing ensemble for top-flight artists and concert events.

The experience and expertise the band possesses within its ranks guarantee that whatever the requirements for your event or function, this band will meet and exceed your expectations. Blu BamBoo truly boasts some of the very best professionals in the business and represents the cutting edge in great music for every occasion.

MEMBERS

CHANELLE DAVIDS (Lead Vocals)

Chanelle has been a keen performer since the age of 9 with her natural skills and abilities already being acknowledged in her early teens when she was chosen to represent South Africa in the World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles.

After graduating from the University of Johannesburg with a National Diploma in Fine Arts, Chanelle focused on her professional singing career by working in various corporate shows alongside several of our country’s finest such as Mortimer Williams, Tumisho Masha and Craig Urbani. In 2012 Chanelle was crowned 2nd in the Miss Earth South Africa Final where she was afforded the opportunity to express her passion for community development & global environmental concerns.

In an effort to expand her horizons and broaden her expertise as a world class performing artist, Chanelle then joined the Afro Arimba Productions theatre cast where her singing prowess led her to perform in over 33 countries around the globe.  Upon her return to South Africa Chanelle has become an overnight singing sensation when she featured on national TV as one of the chosen contestants on talent show THE VOICE SA.

 
NIGEL MORKEL (Lead Vocals)

Nigel Morkel hails from Cape Town where he capitalised on his considerable “street” credibility at an early age to turn himself into a superb dancer, singer, songwriter and actor. After studying drama at  John Vander Ross in 1994  Nigel worked in PIC and Gods Disciples Gospel bands in 1995, became a Coca Cola Popstars finalist in 2002 and then moved on to became a member of the nationally acclaimed band Afro Z. Notably, he also shared the 2004 International Hip Hop Championship trophy over this time.

2005 saw him taking to the Barnyard Theatre stage where he performed in numerous shows such as Surfin’ Safari, Born To Run, Glory Days, & Buddy Holly amongst others.

Nigel has since enjoyed extensive international exposure whilst touring with various productions to several countries such The Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, France, Sweden, Norway, The Caribbean , The Seychelles, Turkey, Spain & Dubai over the years.

He has being prolific on the local South Africa extravaganza scene, taking the leading role in the shows Cirque Du Carousel, Streetbeat, Fantasy, Xstacy & Fusion Go Wild. His captivating stage presence & exceptional vocal ability has also made him a highly sought after lead vocalist among live bands of various genres  like Afrique, Toy Soldiers, The Banned, Detour Project & of course…. Blu Bamboo.

BRENDAN ROSS (Lead Vocal / Saxes / Keyboards)

Brendan attended school in Port Elizabeth where he began studying music. By the age of 13 he was performing at restaurants with his father’s band “The Sapphires”. At 17 he wrote and recorded two songs for radio Algoa that were used as “signature” tunes. Later that year he won the prize for “best talent” at the Eastern Capes ‘On The Go Show’.

In 1992 he relocated to Pretoria and after a few years in the air force band and studies at Pretoria Technikon 
music department, he took a sabbatical to attend Berklee College of Music in Boston, U.S.A, where he completed the Berklee performance program and was awarded a scholarship.

Upon his return to SA he began working with a local jazz band called Light Years & the Vusi Khumalo band. In 2000 he joined Johnny Clegg’s band as their saxophonist, backing vocalist and later, keyboardist. With Clegg, Brendan has enjoyed extensive travels to all corners of the globe, giving him the opportunity to play at very prestigious events, sharing the stage with very

well-respected artists and performing in front of very large audiences (the largest of which was headlining the opening of the Montreal Jazz festival main stage for a live audience of 125 000 people). Some other highlights with the Clegg band have been playing at the 46664 HIV/AIDS awareness concerts in Tromso (Norway) & George (South Africa) & Madiba’s 80th birthday celebration concert (where he performed with Peter Gabriel, Brian May of Queen, Annie Lennox & the Corrs to mention a few).

In 2010 Brendan released his first solo record to great critical acclaim, which features many of the top musicians the country has to offer. Brendan’s sax sound could be heard daily playing popular sax themes for the television series Binnelanders 2012-2013 and until end 2011, Isidingo. In 2006 he set up a recording studio where he wrote, recorded and produced the channel logo music for SABC Africa. In 2007 he formed a joint venture and co-wrote, recorded & produced SABC 3 Theme music with business partner Concord Nkabinde, as well as SABC 1 TV series Soul Buddyz and Soul City (seasons 9,10 & 11).

Brendan, as a keyboardist and sax player, has done numerous live and recorded television and DVD performances over the years with many top artists from around the country. From Afro Café to “Dis my Storie”, to “Deur die Mukke” (2007 & 2008), to Gospel Skouspel (2008-2015), to “Bring Jou Hart” and “Hart vol Drome” with top sellers Theuns Jordaan and Juanita DuPlessis. In 2015 he was also a band member for the critically acclaimed 'Afrikaans is Groot'.

DENNY LALOUETTE (Electric & Acoustic Bass)

Denny was born in Mauritius, started playing guitar at age 8, emigrated to SA at age 14, started playing drums before moving over to Bass at age 16 and has been a freelance bass player since finishing high school in South Africa – where he has lived ever since.

As a result of being extremely experienced and proficient in so many types of music and having a thoroughly professional attitude, he is extremely sought after for studio as well as live work. He is constantly learning and always open to whatever is “the next big thing” and as a result stays on top of his game.

He is an endorsee of Yamaha basses, MarkBass amplifiers and unofficial endorsee of NS electric Upright Basses. He had a favourable review of his Bass work on Andy Narell’s “Live in South Africa” album in the respected American “Bass Player” magazine. The amount of recordings that he played on runs into the thousands (over 2000 albums) and he has also been on countless commercials and TV shows including being part of the IDOLS band every year, Strictly Come Dancing (2006), Huisgenoot’s yearly extravaganza “Skouspel”, the local Jerry Springer series, to name but a few.

Denny has also performed extensively in Prague, Warsaw, Gdynia, Moscow, Budapest, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Seychelles and many African Countries.

Sydney was born in Johannesburg but was brought up in Barberton, Mpumulanga. At the age of 11 he moved to Durban and at 12 started having Cornet lessons from his father which resulted in him playing with the Salvation Army Band. By age 15 after lessons from Prince Lengoasa & further lessons (and influence) from Brian Thusi he was headed in the direction of Jazz. Theory lessons with Cyril Khumalo at age 18 enabled him to register at age 21 with the University of Natal for a B.Mus. degree studying with Darius Brubeck.

In 1995 he went to Florida International University as an exchange student from Natal. While there he had the opportunity to have trumpet lessons from the legendary Cuban trumpeter, Arturo Sandoval and John Bailey.        

SYDNEY MAVUNDLA (Trumpet)

Back in South Africa, Sydney relocated to Johannesburg where he joined Steve Dyer’s “Southern Freeway” for a tour of Zimbabwe. He subsequently toured Germany, Holland, Zimbabwe and Cape Town with Steve Dyer in “Mahube”.

As well as playing with the Fat Sound, Sydney has played with many of South Africa’s star musicians such as Vusi Khumalo, Jimmy Dludlu, Victor Ntoni, McCoy Mrubata and the late Moses Molelekwa.

He often appears with Bruce Cassidy in the former’s “Hot Foot Sympathy Orchestra” Graham Scott Big Band and JMI ( Johannesburg Music Initiative Orchestra) and Mango Groove.

NEILL ETTRIDGE (Drums)

Based in Johannesburg, Neill is considered to be one the country’s most influential drummers, with a work profile that covers every corner of the SA Music Industry; as house band member for the popular Idols TV series 1-6 and drummer for SA's most iconic band, Mango Groove, to record and live dates with many of the country's most prolific artists as well as numerous Orchestral, Corporate, TV and Radio commercial engagements. He is also a member of two of Johannesburg’s most highly rated groups, Blu BamBoo and The JHB Jazz Quintet.

Neill has undertaken many international tours to Germany, Italy, France, USA, Australia and New Zealand, Russia, Poland, Hungary & Czechoslovakia  with the likes of the Soweto String Quartet, top SA/USA vocalist, Joseph Clarke, The JHB Male Voice Choir and Mango Groove. Amongst other notable engagements, Neill was invited along with three other musical luminaries in South Africa, to perform at the Moscow Conservatory and the Gdansk Jazz Festival alongside the John McLaughlin group, as well as representing South Africa with Mango Groove at the historical hand-over of Hong Kong back to China.

Neill Ettridge is the director and principal of the DrumLab group of educational studios in South Africa, and an international endorser for Sonor Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Remo Drumheads & Pro Mark Signature Drum Sticks.