#MusicExchange: Buddy Wells

He has performed at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival every year from 2000 to 2016 and is a regular performer at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown and the Joy of Jazz Festival in Johannesburg.

International performances include several North Sea Jazz Festival in the Netherlands; the Swedish Jazz Celebration, Stockholm; and the National Jazz Scene in Oslo; the Nehru Center in Mumbai India, the Festival d'Automne à Paris; and the Oslo Jazz Festival.

Current projects include The Buddy Wells Quintet, The Reza Khota Quartet, Offshore Jazz Quartet, Andreas Loven Quartet, Breakfast Included, Tucan Tucan, The Frank Paco Art Ensemble, John Hassan's Hassan'adas, and The Adamu Trio.

Buddy and his band featuring Reza Khota, Mark Fransman, Nic Williams, and Jonno Sweetman will be headlining the Reeler Concert series this weekend.

The intimate Reeler Theatre in Rondebosch and the Academy of Sound Engineering will host a series of concerts; 2 August 2018 with FreshlyGround then The Sweet Resistance will perform on 3 August 2018 and finally, Buddy Wells on 4 August 2018.

I spoke to Buddy mid-note this week.

When are you happiest?

I’m happiest when I’m ‘in the zone’. Whether it’s playing music with great musicians, surfing a wave, or cycling through beautiful surroundings, every now and then something just clicks and I find myself doing something really special, almost effortlessly. It makes all the hard work leading up to that moment worthwhile.

What drives you: ego or humility?

I like to think I’m more humble than egotistical but I’m pretty sure my wife would disagree.

Any funny moments on stage?

Plenty, like time Tribe played at Oppikoppi and a lot of the audience were tripping, and this dude danced in front of the stage naked for most of the set. Or the time a sax player who wasn’t part of the band wanted to show off and walked on stage and picked up McCoy Mrubata’s soprano to play it but couldn’t even make a sound. McCoy said nothing, and the guy gave up and walked off embarrassed. So then McCoy Mrubata picks up his soprano, takes out the pad saver (a big pipe cleaner which makes the horn unplayable), which was blocking his horn, and played a killer solo.

It’s your round what are you drinking?

I enjoy a good quality craft beer or whiskey.

What makes you stand out?

My odd shaped head. Haha. And people say I have a unique, recognisable sax sound.

Nicknames?

My name is a nickname so I’m disqualified.

If you were not a musician, what would you do?

I’d probably be an engineer, mathematician, or economist because I love trying to solve problems.

What song changed your life?

Closer to The Source by Bheki Mseleku because I was booked to play in duo with him and that’s how I was introduced to the rest of his music.

What is your favourite word?

I say ‘cool’ more than I should.

Favourite fashion garment?

Nothing at the moment. Putting three kids through private school disqualifies me from buying anything really cool. Ask me again in eight years’ time.

Top of your bucket list?

Surfing through a barrel.

What do you complain about most often?

I loathe paperwork.

What is your fear?

Mountains of paperwork.

Happiness is?

Paddling into a wave with the sun setting behind me and a whale sunning itself a few meters away, knowing I don’t have any paperwork to do.

On stage, I tend to?

Close my eyes and space out to the music. I have to remind myself to keep it together.

Wishes and dreams for 2018?

Make great recordings, play some beautiful music, keep fit and healthy, love and be loved.

www.buddywells.com