It has been some years since seeing the Reza Khota Quartet perform in their original formation. The iconic band recently got together and delighted fans and audiences with a tour to Johannesburg and Cape Town. Some years back, we were lucky enough to see them more frequently, however a lack of venues, and the expense of touring through different cities mean many artists don’t have the capacity to perform in the same way. This tour was a reminder of appreciating those artists who still continue to push to release original music, despite the odds stacked against them.
The Quartet is lead by Khota on guitar, Shane Cooper on bass, Buddy Wells on saxophone and drummer Jonno Sweetman. I was lucky enough to catch them at Chiesa Di Pazzo Lupi in Melville, Johannesburg – a first time at the venue that definitely prioritises listening with the chill area kept separate from the stage. The band have as much chemistry on the stage as they do off, with long-time friendships between them. The set included a mix of some new and older material, but where the band shines is in their ability to really stretch the compositions much further and work with complex material.
Khota talks a little bit about how the September tour went, “The tour with RKQ was awesome! It was brilliant having Shane Cooper back in the band. He brings a certain inventiveness and rhythmic solidity to the band. He is also capable of playing some of my more challenging compositions, something that not many bass players will be willing to do. We played in Joburg (Chiesa) and in Cape Town (Chimurenga and The Commons).”
It has been roughly six years since these musicians were able to play together, but Khota kept the quartet going with other bass players in the interim. He adds about the tour, “The Cape Town shows were both really great. Good attendance, great vibe and the band played really well.”
In terms of the new material, he says “there is a strong intention to record this band again, especially after the recent tour.”
The recent tour was made possible through a Concerts SA Mobility Grant which is organised by the FEC. Khota says that this funding was really important to ensure the tour could happen.
“The FEC money is vital for the running costs of a tour. It covers the most important expenses such as travel, accommodation, and production costs. It also pays artists a fee which makes the effort worthwhile. As you know, many artists struggle financially so these initiatives are a little catalyst that brings momentum to an artist’s creative endeavours. The grant was generous and is enough for a short and cost saving budgeted tour. For any longer tours, there would need to be additional funding.”
More on Reza Khota here.