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Info... Projects: Ashish & Greg have collaborated with many other artists and alot of other music has been found through these collaborations. Listed below are a few of the projects that they have worked on and some press reviews. Strings 'n Skins can be found at most major festivals around Africa.
Strings n Skins and Friends: The band does many shows nationally and are always keen to allow different dimensions of thought to flow through the music. Thus the concept of "and friends" was born. Collaborations with entire bands to single musician friends in different combinations changes the geography of the tune somewhat, but does not interfere with the message brought across. Marc Duby, McCoy Mrubata, Fethi Tabet, Gordons Suitcase, DJ Bob, Steve Newman, Wynand van der Walt, Brian Georgiades, Francoisa Chambroud, Antony Crawthorn Blazeby, Bernard Mdaweni, Madala Kunene and a few others are some of the concious threads that have been heard by fans. Look forward to very many different combinations that arise from this variation of the project... Sur Bandits: A bigger band concept delving into the infinite realms of Indian Classical meets Fusion type music. The group comprise of the following South African musicians: Premal Bhana (Sitar), Greg Hadjiyorki Georgiades (Guitar, Oud, Sarod), Dillen Ramjee (Mridangam, Ghatam), Wynand van der Walt (Drums, Percussion), Ravi Lallo (Tabla, Djembe), Steve Newman (Guitar, Bass) and Ashish Joshi (Tabla, Santoor, Zarb). For more info on this lineup check out www.melt.co.za DVD recording coming soon... Vivid Afrika: A collaboration between Greg and McCoy Mrubata that has yielded magical music. The origins of this music project are found firmly rooted in the soil of our African continent, with its richly diverse peoples and ancient history. The band comprises of Greg and McCoy (Saxophone, Saxello, Flute), Mlungise Gegana (Upright Double Bass), Wynand van der Walt (Drums), Siya Makuzeni (Vocal, Trombone) and Ashish Joshi (Tabla, Darbuka, Dhol, Zarb). When one listens to the music produced by this group, one realises that it could only have come from the deep foundations of these friendships, which allow the music created to transcend the mere notes and rhythms and open new avenues of experience. To get a taste of this band check out the following link: www.vividafrika.calabashmusic.com
The World In A Guitar: The World In A Guitar came about as an idea of the Aquarian Quartet who wanted to showcase themselves together with the musicians each of the quartet's members played with outside the form of the Aquarian Quartet. This idea presented itself as an electric show that had audiences begging for more. You can find out more on this at www.plumproductions.co.za , or at www.tonycox.co.za Fort West Heritage Festival: This project was realised through the Alliance Francais who asked Greg to perform at the festival. Greg, wondering who to perform with, chose his Strings 'n SKins partner Ashish and then teamed up with Ernest Motle and Madala Kunene. This performance was recorded and is set for DVD release by record company MELT. www.melt.co.za Zanzibar International Film Festival: Ashish and Greg were invited to perform at the ZIFF festival in Zanzibar to perform at the festival's award ceremony which was held at the Old Fort in Stone Town, Zanzibar. The trip included a performance on the main stage at the festival, and their music was well appreciated by many music and film lovers from all over the world. www.ziff.or.tz Here are some press reviews on the band:
From the press release for the Heritage Festival @ Fort West - Greg Hadjiyorki Georgiades has carved a name for himself as a brilliant soloist and fine composer in groups like Fly By Night, The Passengers, Bazaar and others. His early interest in rock and fusion took a turn when he encountered the acoustic guitar and a passion and understanding of World music. Apart from playing with the Aquarian Quartet, he also fronts The Mutant Harmony Trio and Strings 'n Skins with Tabla exponent Ashish Joshi, both of which groups have albums out on the Digital Cupboard label. Greg lives in Pretoria and will be performing with Ernest Mothle, Ashish Joshi and Madala Kunene. Pretoria News Online on a gig played @ Tings 'an Times - "Is this an invisible band? I can't see them," someone piped up during a recent Strings 'n Skins performance in Pretoria . They are just sitting down on the floor, because the drums are small Indian drums and well, that's just the way Greg Georgiades and Ashish Joshi do it - relaxed. Georgiades has been a musician for many years, but only teamed up with Joshi about two years ago. They met through a sound engineer and realised that the strange little drums and fretless guitar is a perfect musical mix. Although Strings 'n Skins is a duo, Georgiades regards the audience as part of the band. "The audience experience the music so they perform as well," says Georgiades.
"The people like it because it is rhythmic," he says and add that their following started at the August Oppikoppi 1998 festival Extract from a letter written to Tony Cox on The World in a Guitar - ................. Anyway, great show. That young Indian percussionist ( are they called percussionists) and the Flamenco guitarists, especially the Indian dude who played this stuff on a carpet, ahh, ahh, may Allah bless him some more. |
