McCoy Mrubata
Born in Cape Town, South Africa in 1959, McCoy Mrubata is a jazz saxophonist, flute player, band leader and composer. Growing up, he was surrounded by music including African hymns, brass bands, and other styles of music. Living under the dark cloud of the apartheid government, he decided to leave school in 1976 and pursue music as a creative outlet and career. Early in his career, his main instrument was the flute, and he began performing in cover bands. He was discovered by bandleader Sipho Mabuse, who encouraged him to play a wider range of reed instruments including the saxophone. Moving to Johannesburg, he became part of the local music scene, eventually signing a record contract in 1988. McCoy Mrubata released his debut solo album, Firebird, in 1989. He formed a band called Brotherhood, who went on to win the Gilbey's Music for Africa prize in 1990. Joining Hugh Masekela’s band Lerapo, he toured the world before coming back to Cape Town and playing in his own bands. In 1997, the album A New Hope was issued by Society Vibes, a group featuring Pops Mohamed and McCoy Mrubata. That released was followed by two albums as a leader: Phosa Ngasemva (1999) and Hoelykit? (2000). McCoy Mrubata’s Face the Music won the Best Traditional Jazz Album honor at the South African Music Awards in 2003 - he would win the same award in 2005 with his Icamagu Livumile album and in 2008 with The Brasskap Sessions, Volume 1. Outside of his recording career, he also became involved in production, film scoring and teaching music workshops.
©Copyright Music Story Stephen Schnee 2023
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Discography
11 album(s) • Sorted by Bestseller
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Quiet Please
Jazz - Released by Content Connect Africa on Nov 5, 2021
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Brasskap Sessions, Vol. 1
Jazz - Released by Sheer Sound on May 8, 2007
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Lullaby For Khayoyo
Contemporary Jazz - Released by Ropeadope on Apr 5, 2024
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Live at the Bird's Eye
Jazz - Released by Kokoko Records on Jul 22, 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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It Used to Be Blue
McCoy Mrubata, Ashish Joshi, Greg Georgiades
Jazz - Released by McCoy Mrubata on Jun 24, 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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