Gavin Minter

Latest News

Gavin Minter will perform at the Baxter Concert hall on the 12th May 2010 in aid of Haiti

Latest Album

CD featuring Stockholm Jazz Orchestra released 15th March 2008 through Sheer records.
Reviews
The album is intensely personal one and is a tribute to his late trumpet player father, Tom Minter. All the songs are favourites of Minter’s and have a special meaning to him.
The lush, rich, intense, dark arrangements by composer Standberg and Minters voice lifts the album to great heights of pleasant aural enjoyment and should find pride of place in ones CD collection. It is difficult to choose a favourite track as each has its own charm and hits the right spot for any mood. The album will sit very well in the car CD player and will take one on a journey of escape from the stresses of daily traffic jams and road rage.
I’ll Be Seeing You is a winner and will be enjoyed for years to come, go have a listen and one will be seduced into taking a copy home.
CD OF THE WEEK – Eric Alan - Late Show
His smooth voice is backed up by the Stockholm Jazz Orchestra and this laid back album is perfect for when you need to unwind
Sieraaj Ahmed – You magazine
“Any fool knows bravado is always a cover up for insecurity” chirped Bobby Darrin when asked the secret to singing standards. Gavin Minter’s been listening as no neo-Vegas lounge lizard hustle or pop cover clichés needed for this Mother City crooner. Warming up with the Casablanca classic “As Time Goes By” he uncovers the yearning at the core of the Carpenter’s classic “Close To You” As with any classy crooner, Minter’s ability to bewitch, bother and bewilder the listener pivots around his phrasing. Lingering over every syllable, he remembers what Sinatra learned from Billie Holiday on a subdued reading of Lady Day’s ”Don’t Explain”, channels Chet Baker’s cool on “I’ve Never Been in Love Before” and finds solace in “In The Wee Small Hours of The Morning” Rather than trying to beat Tony Bennett at his laid back best, together with the Stockholm Jazz Orchestra and a VIP cast of South African session men, he simply revisits the Dixieland roots of “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” before swinging into a double distilled version of Jobim’s bossa breeze “Caminhos Cruzados”
In an age of instant hits destined to become instantly obsolete “Ill Be Seeing You” is one of the most timeless standards sets you’ll hear all year.
Myles Keylock – Essential Listening – GQ Magazine - 4 stars
Who needs Michael Buble’ Cape Town based Gavin Minter has a rather trance-inducing [in a good way] voice. Most of his songs are soothing ballads, which are perfect for winding down at the end of a long day. Featuring the Stockholm Jazz Orchestra, its pure bliss.
Nikki Temkin – Sundays Times Magazine – 4 stars
The very best of Big-Band [Front page]
It’s a good album - its beautifully recorded and has a beautiful sentiment
Evan Milton - The Good Weekend – Cape Argus

Biography

Singer, saxophonist, percussionist, writer, composer, producer, promoter and music agent.

born - Pietermaritzburg on the 5 th March - Pisces

father - jazz trumpet player

mother - jazz singer

Started playing guitar at the age of twelve.

At sixteen was doing the solo pub circuit in the Kwazulu Natal area.

Moved to Johannesburg and continued paying the solo artist dues.

1982 started playing the saxophone.
1985 he joined the Johnny Fourie Band as a singer and stepped into the jazz arena that he had been weaned on since birth.

The same year he formed Adverse Edition with Sean Fourie, Chris Bekker and Ray Boshoff.

Continued to work as a singer and horn player around Johannesburg with pop, rock and funk bands. [Fat City, Wendy Oldfield, Jennifer Ferguson…]

Played horn with some great jazz outfits [The Genuines, Theta, Vusi Tusi, Chris Mcgregor, Thandie Klaasens, Tembi Mtshali and Johnny Fourie]

1988 went to live in London and Amsterdam, as well as travelled Europe for two years. Performed with Gloria Gaynor in Holland in her hey-day.
1990 returned to South Africa and recorded and toured with Wendy Oldfield.

The same year he moved to Cape Town.

1991 formed Wired to the Floor with Kevin Gibson, Paul Hanmer and James Scholfield. The same year released "Art and the Dollar".

Formed publishing company Real Wired Music

Went to Swaziland to perform with Eric Clapton, Joan Armatrading and Jonathan Butler as well as opening act for Paul Simon for the "Born at the right time" tour.

Wired to the Floor became Marc/Alex backing band with Gavin as musical director for the band.

Toured with Mark/Alex for 18 months.

Gave up the brothers to concentrate on Wired to the Floor.

Toured around the country extensively for the following two years.

1993 returned to Johannesburg and the members went their separate ways.

Released the Gavin Minter debut album with local and international interest and acclaim. No 1 hit with "My Cheri Amour" and "If we had the Time"

Went back and forth to the UK and Europe for work and inspiration.

Gavin Minter debut album was nominated for an Artes award and was the first time Gavin was in the producer's chair.
1994 toured with Chris De Burgh as the only opening act [23 shows] and recorded with The Hothouse flowers

The same year he started writing his un-reliable memoirs which eventually went down with his soprano saxophone on a cruise liner, 100 miles of the Somalian coast.

1995 spent the year touring the African East Coast up to Europe and ended up in New York for a year.

Played with Cobi Macerca an American R&B recording artist as well as ran his own band in Manhattan.

Spent the year hanging out in all the jazz haunts, both the established ones and the more cutting edge - off the path venues.

Came back to South Africa mid 1996, wrote and produced JACIDAZZ with the talented Valencia Ferlito. [Top acid jazz album]

1997 recorded and produced "Second time around" standards album.

As Don Albert wrote in his crit " this is the best male vocal jazz album ever to be released by a South African artist"

Played clubs and functions for the next two years and formed top club/house band The Soulution.

Played live with Luther Vandross's band as well as sang "My Cheri Amour" live with Stevie Wonder.

1999 joined The Green Dolphin as entertainment manager.

Same year he performed for Nelson Mandela at his going away luncheon for Tynhuis.

1999 Started doing promotions and in-house productions for the Green Dolphin.
Gavin is asked to judge regional finals for the Old Mutual Jazz Into The Future competition.
2000 Gavin does a lecture tour on music and jazz around the country, for Old Mutual Jazz Encounters.

Performs at Davidoff Jazz Vocal Festival under his name and the Cape Town Jazz Orchestra.

February 2001 he steps into the producers chair again to produce "Breakfast Included's" debut album.

2002, Gavin produces Jazz Impressions Volume 1. [Album featuring 6 top jazz acts in Cape Town]
2003 February, Gavin produces Russ Nerwich's debut album "Above so Below" and June, Andrew Lilley's Album "Ukuvuyo"

Gavin does lectures on jazz and music for Standard Bank Jazz Festival 2002 / 2003 and again in 2004.

2004, Gavin joins Junction 021 Big Band as lead singer and performs at Kirstenbosch the same year.

2005 Performs with Mas Que Nada and Tina Schouw at Oude Libertas
2005 Performs at Kirstenbosch showcasing all his original compositions.
2005 Performs with the Heritage Big Band at Cape Town City Hall alongside Winston Mankunku, Marcus Wyatt, Errol Dyers and Sylvia Mdunyelwa.
2005 - Launches Johnnie Walker Gold Label and performs with the Stockholm Jazz Orchestra at three different concerts.

2005 Gavin produces Amanda Tiffin's debut album.

November 2005 performs on Cell C Sounds of the City with Cape Jazz All Stars alongside Winston Mankunku, Errol Dyers and Robbie Jansen.

Joins "Strait and Narro" as their percussionist.

2006 Gavin recorded an album with the prestigious Swedish Big Band, The Stockholm Jazz Orchestra [one of the best Big Bands in Europe].
2006 – Gavin starts getting more involved as a professional percussionist.

During 2006 he played percussion with some of South Africa's top artists in all genres. Judith Sephuma, Allou April, Ezra, Louise Carver, Arno Carstens, Albert Frost, Dan Patlansky, Robin Auld, Gloria Bosman, Marcus Wyatt, Concord, Flat Stanley, Steve Newman, Nibs Van Der Spuy, Gloria Bosman, Guy Buttery, Adamu ...

July 2006 – Performs on Levi's Vintage Sundays with original band. Also plays alongside Arno Carstens, Robin Auld, Louise Carver and many more.

August 2006 – Gavin is musical director for Loerie Awards 2006. He conducts a 20 piece Big Band and a 20 piece choir for the show, featuring top artists like Arno Carstens, Albert Frost, Malaika, Mr Fat, Ready

September he performs with Louise Carver at Kirstenbosch

October performs at Heritage Festival – Waterfront with the Gavin Minter Band

2007 performs alongside [Grammy award winner] Shawn Phillips at Kirstenbosch.

Feb 2007 - Joins Womantide with Tina Schouw, Ernie Deane and Malika Ndlovu as percussionist

June - Performs the Billie Holiday Show at Winter Theatre

June 2007 Performs on Levi’s Vintage Sundays – Green Dolphin with original band, and alongside Arno Carstens and Albert Frost.

July performs with Strait and Narro, Tumi, Amanda Tiffin and Tina Schouw at Levi's Vintage Sundays – West End.

August performs at Baxter Theatre with Moreira Chonguica, Tina Schouw, Strait and Narro and Robin Auld

September performs with Womantide at Kirstenbosch and again with Robin Auld in October

October performs with Arno Carstens and Albert Frost at Bassline - JHB for Best Of Vintage Sundays

October performs at Heritage Festival – Waterfront with the Gavin Minter Band
2008 January - Performs at J&B Met
February performs regular gigs with Sambita and Charuto
March releases his 5th CD "I'll be seeing you" featuring the Stockholm Jazz Orchestra
March regular club gigs with Mas Que Nada
March he performs to a sell out audience at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival with the Mother City Jazz Orchestra
April and May does regular club gigs and various corporate functions including the Sanlam Awards function at Monte Casino [JHB]
June – performs in Cape Town showcasing his new original material and is one of the artists chosen for the TAC concert at St Georges Cathedral
Performs at the Grahamstown Jazz Festival
July - Performs the Billie Holiday Show at Oude Meester Winter Theatre
Performs with super rock act Prime Circle on Levis Vintage Sundays
Performs at Glenn Miller Café in Stockholm
August performs Kirstenbosch Winter Festival - showcasing all his original tunes and at the Joy of Jazz - JHB - with the amazing and funky Strait and Narro. Mark Fransman on piano and vocals, Melanie Scholtz on vocals, Buddy Wells on saxophones, Kevin Gibson on drums, Wesley Rustin on bass, Lee Thomson on trumpet and Gavin Minter on vocals and percussion
Plays percussion with rock outfit Prime Circle at Willowbridge Theatre

Nassau Centre - Cape Town - with the amazing and funky Strait and Narro and at Kirstenbosch - Billie Holiday Show – with Tina Schouw

Sibaya - Durban - Duo with the renowned poet Malika Ndlovu

October

FMR Cape Town - Gavin is invited to judge the Cape Town finalists for the FMR Jazz Competition

Zulu Jazz lounge Durban - With Mark Fransman Quintet - Mark Fransman on saxophone, vocals and piano, Dave Ledbetter on guitar and piano, Gavin Minter on percussion, Kevin Gibson on drums and Wesley Rustin on double bass

Zulu Jazz lounge Durban - Gavin Minter Quintet

Society - Florida Rd Durban - Gavin Minter Live and Original

November

Plays percussion with rock outfit Prime Circle at Willowbridge Theatre

Plays regular jazz and World music gigs

Performs 3 nights at FNB Whisky Festival

Fronts That Swing Thing – 12 piece Biggish Band at Jade Lounge

2009

January

Performs 3 shows with Arno Carstens and Albert Frost in Durban

Performs Kirstenbosch with super rock outfit Prime Circle

Performs at J&B Met

February

Plays with Arno Carstens at Kirstenbosch

Plays various Latin and jazz gigs around townHosts Jonathon Crossley’s Chech Mate concert at SABC Auditorium

March, April and May

Launches Levis Vintage Sundays - JHB

Plays various Latin and jazz gigs around town

Performs with Prime Circle at Botanical Gardens in Durban

Performs for the opening of the Conservatory in Franschoek

Performs at The South African Music Awards 09 at Sun City

Gavin was also nominated for Best Jazz Album

June

Launches Levis Vintage Sundays – CT

Performs with Prime Circle at Barnyard in Umhlanga

Performs with Ezra and Jitsvinger [poet] at Jade Lounge

Plays various Latin and jazz gigs around town

July

Produces Andrew Lilley’s album, featuring Johan Horlen, Frederik Noren, Karl-Martin Almqvist, Kevin Gibson, Martin Solsjedt and Petter Olafson

Performs with flamenco guitarist Saudiq Khan and with Steve Newman at Levis Vintage Sundays

Plays Green Dolphin with Gavin Minter Quartet and Charuto [Latin Trio] with Mark Fransman and Dave Ledbetter

Performs with Prime Circle at Lyric Theatre and on Levis Vintage Sundays

August / September / October

Plays Green Dolphin with Gavin Minter Quartet Performs on percussion with Womantide at Artscape Records with Rory Elliot for new album Plays various functions including “Smallish Big Band” - Bowtie Bureaucracy 8 Performs with Steve Newman and Greg Georgiades at La Scarpetta in Durban Plays various functions –including the Wildlife Foundation at One and Only  

November / December

Tours Sweden and performs 10 shows with the legendary Stockholm Jazz Orchestra Performs with Prime Circle at Joburg Day and again at the Paul Cluver Amphitheater Performs NYE at Green Dolphin and does various other small jazz gigs  

2010

Jan / Feb / March

Performs with the Mother City Jazz Orchestra, Judith Sephuma and Robbie Jansen at the Aqua Jazz Festival Books and runs all then live entertainment for the J&B Met Plays at the V@A Waterfront Amphitheatre for Valentines Day Performs Kirstenbosch with Super Rock Act Prime Circle Plays in Durban and various jazz gigs in Cape Town Performs withgroove outfit Strait and Narro at the Oude Libertas Amphitheatre in Stellenbosch Performs Big Bay with Art from Just Jinger Plays K Day with Prime Circle in JHB  

Profile coded by Brian Currin