Presenting

SiliOlBé Quartet

Siliobé, like so many magical things, arose at the crossroads of serendipity and intention. Cofounder Martin Wolfaardt, keen to embark on a new musical project outside of his usual boundaries, was sharing his blossoming vision with anyone who would listen. When Serina, a 4- year-old girl, overheard his abstract, conceptual ideas she smirked, looked him up and down and opined “silly old bear!”.

THE BAND

AYLA LOVE – Vocalist
MARTIN WOLFAARDT – Keyboard, Piano
MARK TABBRON – Percussion
RAEN MESSINA – Drums

OVERVIEW

In that “Tao of Pooh” spirit Siliobé immediately came to life. Musical inspiration followed – a combination of jazz and world music influences with EDM that cried out for a strong rhythmical element. The obvious choice of drummer was Raen Messina – a Garden Route local with formal sound engineering training and a whole-hearted love of improvisation – brought to Youtube audiences through his fraternal Hermitage Studio productions.

The very first Siliobé concert, at Louvain Burn in the Karoo, was augmented by the joyous talents of Mark Tabbron. Apart from being a viscerally powerful percussionist across a wide range of rhythmical traditions, Mark is also internationally recognized for his innovative approach to empowering people through the language of percussion, music and dance. In 1994 he cofounded RedZebra Global, a Social Enterprize with offices in the UK, USA and South Africa. He has performed and worked in over 70 countries worldwide – helping everyone from corporate managers to homeless children discover their individual potential, allowing them to fuel their purpose with passion and fun.

The power of the connection between the three musicians on stage at Louvain Burn was palpable and Siliobé took the form they have since presented at the Plett Arts Festival, GreenPop and elsewhere Martin has performed at, and organised, numerous arts and jazz festivals on the Garden Route – often at the helm of his critically acclaimed jazz quintet Offshore, who have released three albums and played international stages such as the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. This time he promises a groove-oriented, ambient dance experience with a healthy side order of jazz.