'Sister' Black Rose - Piano - Keyboard - organ
Black Rose was born in Cape Town (RSA). Her interest in music started at home where she started playing music in church accompanying sunday school and youth choirs.
In the late nineties she teamed up with Cape Town musicians such as Mac Mckenzie and the late Alex Van Heerden. In 2001 she met Richard Schilder with whom she studied one year. She started playing with Belgian drummer Oom Flupke and in 2003 she toured Europe for the first time.
Back in South Africa, 'Sister' Black Rose and Oom Flupke formed the band "Black Rose African Jazz Orchestra" and also started the "Black Rose Arts & Culture School Project", a musical contribution towards the younger generations.
Between 2006 and 2008 she was the pianist and musical director of the South African play "Reclaiming the P.......word", a play by the Gender Equity Department of the University of the Western Cape. In 2010 the Black Rose Project has performed @ the "Fifa World Cup" in Cape Town. Her band has been playing steadilly throughout the years with a variety of South African and European musicians such as Soi Soi Gqeza, Errol Dyers, Pierre Bernard, Joe Higham and Joannah Pinxteren in an effort to honour the South African musical tradition.
Currently, the Black Rose Project is also engaged with young artists in and around Cape Town.
Oom Flupke - Drums - percussion
Originally from Flanders, Belgium, Flupke became a professional musician in the early 90's. He moved to Brussels where he studued bebop and African music.
He toured Europe from '92 till '94, travelling by tractor and wagon under his artist name "Hannar Zwrachtos".
He formed his own band "Populo Jazz Limousine" in 1995 and worked together with dancer/choreographer 'Joannah Pinxteren' with whom he performed "The Tempest" at the Royal Flemish theatre f rom '96 to '97.
He worked with Malagasy guitarist "Miary Lepiera" with whom he recorded and performed from 1998 till 2000.
In 2000 he put his 8-piece band Populo Jazz Limousine on hold due to difficult work circumstances and lack of contracts and moved to Cape Town, South Africa.
In 2005, together with his wife Black Rose he formed the 'Black Rose African Jazz Orchestra' now called the 'Black Rose Project'. From 2013 onwards they have been playing between Africa and Europe.
'Ras' David - Bass - traditional Khoi bow
Longstanding member of the Black Rose Project, David Marthinus plays bass and over the last few years has integrated the traditional Khoi bow into his music.
Grown out of the Ballroom & Hip Hop scene in and around Cape Town, David has become a sought after bass player with incredible skill.
He has been a member of the Black Rose project since 2013 and has recorded and toured Europe with this band.
The recordings with the band include some of his original compositions such as 'Qunu', 'Peace within' and more traditional songs with the bow & waterpipe.