biography
Acoustic roots duo MAMBO JAMBO - Pete Jack & Frankie Banham - take their audience on a musical journey mixing up sounds from all around the world - bringing authentic sounds from Latin America - especially Afro-Cuban and Brazilian - as well as from the Caribbean and Africa, bluegrass and Eastern European music, into their own compositions. Their whistle stop tour takes in Cuba, Congo, Kentucky and a lot more besides.
Besides strong vocals and harmonies, their instruments are equally varied - sax, clarinet, guitar, tres (traditional Cuban guitar), banjo, flute, Brazilian cavaquinho or ukulele, various percussion, occasional accordion, and a suitcase!
These musical adventurers give more than just a flavour, having performed and studied music as far afield as Salvador in Brazil , Borneo and Havana - where they spent time working with Cuban master musicians, including rehearsing and performing with the groups Estrellas Cubanas and Conjunto Chapottin. Closer to home, they've appeared twice at the Shetland and Sidmouth Folk Festivals, the Cork Jazz Festival and Broadstairs FF. They regularly perform at Musicport and Beverley Festivals....plus arts centres, acoustic clubs and all kinds of get-togethers.
" an extremely listenable criss-crossing of world music boundaries.......Nice!" - Froots magazine
workshops
Samba Dancing / Drumming / Parade -
Frankie teaches Samba dance, suitable for all age groups, although it is fairly physical! No partner needed. Pete teaches Samba drumming workshops, although this is less suitable for infants and small children. Some authentic Brazilian samba instruments can be provided. The dance and drumming can be combined (although separate practice space would be needed) possibly leading to joint performance/procession/parade
Latin and Afro-Cuban -
A presentation with some participation, e.g. hand clapping & singing, of the Afro-Cuban traditional sounds from which the globally popular salsa style emerged. Important instruments are demonstrated (e.g. claves, maracas, bongos etc.), as are some of the major styles (e.g. mambo, rumba, chachacha & son).
Multi Cultural - Songs from Around the World -
Collaboration between musicians from other parts of the world, and schools, to share songs, lyrics and musicmaking from this country and overseas, leading up to public performance.
World Music Presentations -
A one hour long whistle stop presentation of many instruments and styles from all over the world, including Cuba, Africa, the Caribbean, Louisiana, Brazil, Eastern Europe, Bluegrass music, Middle Eastern and island sounds - featuring guitar, saxophone, flute, clarinet, banjo, the Cuban guitar called the tres, accordion, ukulele, drums and percussion of all descriptions. Some participation (e.g. clapping and singing) and questions/answers are usual and encouraged.
The two of them are very flexible and can taylor-make workshops to suit the audience, suit the school curriculum or just to suit your general requirements!
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