IT has been four years since the hit gospel group Avante were last seen or heard around the country.
The all-male group that was formed in the early 1990s by Linda Gcwensa, James Langa, Lucky Cele and the late Bongani Ngcobo and Sphiwe Khanyile hit a lull after the latter two members died.
However, at a “comeback launch” last week at the Stable Theatre in Durban, it was revealed that the KwaMashu-based Avante are now ready to get back on the music scene.
Speaking to Tonight after the launch, Cele said plans are afoot for auditions to be held when two new members will be chosen to join the group.
“We’ve been quiet for about four years. Now we are planning to do auditions because we have two members that we lost about four years ago. We want to get two new members because we are planning to record a DVD around August or September.”
But he was quick to add that the two members are not intended to be a replacement of their “lost brothers”.
“Avante are not just a music group, we are family. When you lose someone in a family they can’t simply be replaced. When we lost our brothers the sound of Avante was still there, but it was not the same, so we want to enhance that sound with new voices. The idea is to sustain Avante,” he explained.
After recording their DVD later this year, Cele said Avante will embark on a national tour: “When we shoot the DVD we’ll be recording the best songs of Avante and some new music. So we need people who can add to that harmony. Avante also commemorates 23 years in the industry this year so we are planning a national tour in line with that once the DVD has been recorded.”
Avante treated those at the event to an a capella performance, proving their talent and worth on the music scene, minus any studio antics or even backing tracks, just raw vocal harmonious talent.
Speaking during the re-launch, Vusi Mvelase, founder of the National Choral Music Awards (Nacma), said they were part of the initiative to re-launch Avante by way of supporting a group that is two decades old and a legacy in gospel music in South Africa.
According the group’s profile, Avante caught their first break in 1993 when they entered the Shell Road To Fame competition where they were spotted by songwriter and producer Mbongeni Ngema. They participated in a few of his projects and also joined forces with Grammy-winner Lebo M as contributing vocalists to The Lion King soundtrack. They became a gospel attraction in South Africa with their first album Yek’ iJerusalema making gold, while their 2003 release, Qina, went platinum.
• Come March 7, Avante will hold auditions for two additional voices at the Stable Theatre in Durban from 9am. Auditions are being held in the group’s home province, but are open to all. For more info, call 031 266 2609.