With their debut album Move Your Things, The Nomadic Orchestra aim to make you move your feet. Since they formed in 2009, the band have undergone a few transitions, but never lost sight of their aim.
The Nomadic Orchestra comprises guitarist Greg Abrahams, tuba player Joe Bolton, drummer Marlon Witbooi, trumpeter James McClure and tenor saxophonist Gabriel du Toit.
Following the recent release of Move Your Things, I sat down with Abrahams (who wrote four of the album’s 12 songs) and Du Toit, who talk over each other, nodding their heads in agreement, but still reach a common destination in thought.
It’s like watching two brothers who are content with their peculiar way of communication.
“Tim Hutchinson started the band,” explains Du Toit, “and then left in 2010.”
“Yeah, he was the main composer,” says Abrahams before Du Toit wraps up: “And then he,” Du Toit points at Abrahams, “became one of the main composers.”
Abrahams jerks his head up: “I think Joe might have composed more than me.”
They look at each other sharply, then at the album cover in front of them, then laugh as they count how many songs some of the members of this Balkan band composed. See? Just like brothers.
Rooted in improvisation, thanks to the jazz backgrounds of four of the five musicians, this instrumental band also draws influences from circus music, klezmer and even a little hip hop as heard on Zoom, featuring Delft-based rap crew, The Sound Supreme Kingz.
Abrahams recalls that he had a conversation with a music journalist that led to him checking out links to the music of three rap groups for possible collaboration.
“I liked SSK the best,” Abrahams throws in an attempt at a hand sign here and we all pack up laughing. “And even when I played all the links for the rest of the band, they also liked SSK the best.”
Du Toit says their affinity for rap “also comes from (liking) the Balkan Beatbox. When you play, you can go from a Balkan riff to a hip hop groove and it doesn’t sound weird at all”.
The Nomadic Orchestra, who credit the Balkanology events at Zula Bar as a part of their foundation, also feature Gertjie Besselsen of Mr Cat and The Jackal on the opening number, The Fish, of an otherwise instrumental album.
Catch The Nomadic Orchestra at Centre Court on Saturday.
• Move Your Things is on iTunes, at The Greek Merchant and at The Nomadic Orchestra shows. See www.nomadicorchestra.co.za