Allou April, Instrumental and Smooth jazz Artist

This South African guitarist got his start in music playing with garage bands at the age of sixteen in his hometown of Saldanha.  His career took off when he moved to Cape Town in the 1970s, and was discovered by some of the City’s top gospel bands.  He eventually became one of the most sought after session musicians in the city, before moving on to clubs, where he performed with instrumental jazz bands.  He is a smooth Jazz guitarist with an eclectic musical style drawn from jazz, funk, Pop, R&B, goema, township contemporary and gospel music.

Born in Saldanha, South Africa

Genre: Jazz, Funk, Pop, R&B, Contemporary African, Gospel

GUITARIST Allou April got his start over 15 years ago playing with garage bands from the tender age of 16. After moving from his hometown of Saldanha to Cape Town in the 1970’s, he was discovered by some of the city’s top gospel bands, and so began his career as one of the most sought after session musicians in the Mother City. He later moved on to playing in clubs, doing standards with instrumental jazz bands.

Over the years, Allou has developed his own unique style of guitar playing that reflects the many eclectic genres within the South African music environment. He has become a significant voice within South Africa on the contemporary African and jazz music landscape.

Allou says “I find it important to project my personal passion through the music of Cape Town, Africa and also the international jazz genre. The time is ripe to share this music with the rest of the global community by encouraging the meeting of different cultures which adds many more dimensions to the world of music.”
Allou has had the opportunity of collaborating with many outstanding musicians such as Sibongile Khumalo, Robbie Jansen, Hotep Galeta, Joe McBride and Al Jarreau.

Biographical information courtesy of music.org.za; for more reading see link below

http://www.music.org.za/artist.asp?id=132