(John
Ellis)
Nux Schwartz and John Ellis appear live at
St. Clements in Musgrave Road tomorrow night (May 31).
Nux Schwartz is a relatively unrecognised
South African songwriter and guitarist but one whose pedigree stretches back to
the mid 1980’s. Nux cut his teeth with Syd Kitchen & The Utensils and
quickly came to grips with its groovy Afro/Reggae/Rock/Folk-a-delic music. Since then he has dedicated his time to not
only mastering the guitar and to maturing as a songwriter, but has earned great
respect as a recording engineer.
He formed Scooters Union in 1996 and went
on to record and produce Vivid Memories
of Static, referred to as a “gem of an album” by SA Rock Digest contributor,
Kurt Shoemaker. When local-legend Koos Kombuis was interviewed by Stephen
Segerman in Gordon's Bay in February 1998, he referred to their album, which
was playing when Segerman arrived, as “really fantastic.”
Along with high-profile gigs including opening
for Crowded House, the band collaborated with The Fantastic Flying Fish Dance
Company for unfinished(r)evolution
created by acclaimed choreographer David Gouldie. They were regulars at
festivals including Splashy Fen, Oppikoppi and at the National Arts Festival in
Grahamstown but were equally at home in a dingy bar, of which they played
plenty! He has also performed with such diverse acts as Blondie Chaplin (Beach
Boys and Rolling Stones), Sipho Gumede and The Kalahari Surfers.
Nux is back with a selection of songs that
mark his return as a truly original South African songwriter and a remarkable
musician of great emotional depth. Pre-production is currently in progress on
an album provisionally-entitled Burning
Bush which will feature a number of friends who have performed with him
over the years: some South African legends and some surprise contributions from
international artists.
John Ellis is a singer-songwriter from
Durban. The principal member, guitar-player, vocalist and songwriter for the
internationally-renowned and award-winning band Tree63, he relocated to his
hometown from America after many years of international success to pursue a
solo career. In 2010, he released his debut solo album, the politically-charged
Come Out Fighting, which garnered him
another SAMA nomination, and in 2011, in addition to his production work for
other South African artists, he recorded his follow-up, an acoustic album
entitled Rural, accompanied by Johnny
Clegg drummer and percussionist extraordinaire, Barry van Zyl.
Ellis is an accomplished guitarist, having
featured on numerous American and British recordings, as well as on albums by
South African artists such as Ernie Smith and Ard Matthews. He also lectures
English literature, politics, communication and academic literacy.
Nux Schwartz and John Ellis appear at St
Clements tomorrow evening (May 31). The doors open at 18h30 and the music
starts at 19h30. Tickets R60 cash at the door. Booking is advised on 031 202 2511. St
Clements is situated at 191 Musgrave Road.
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