This weekend’s Jazz’Afro Sundays programme at 5pm on Sunday, November 4 at the Barn Theatre at the PE Opera House features bass guitarist Elviro Vrolik.
The young, vibrant guitarist from the northern areas first picked up the bass at the tender age of 13 and like most musicians started off playing in church.
He honed his skill and craft in the gospel community and later joined the band New Afro Teens, now known as Modern Tribe.
In 2014, Vrolik enrolled at the Nelson Mandela University under the tutelage of jazz lecturer John Edwards and bass guitar teacher Andrew Warneke.
Since then, Vrolik has formed part of the university’s Afro Jazz Quintet and Big Band. Along with four other Nelson Mandela University Music students past and present, he also formed the band The 5 Coloured Guys. As a sought-after session musician he has played for some of the hottest talent to come from the Bay, such as SA Music Award winner Phumlani Mtiti, Retsi Pule, Titi Luzipo, Creshwell October and Lefa Mosea.
2018 has been proving to be a good year for Vrolik as in September he was awarded the Charles Bryars Scholarship and formed part of Sizwe Yaze and Ntlaa Swana’s bands, which were selected to play at this year’s Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival.
Through his love and passion for music and dedication to his craft, Vrolik says he hopes to touch people from all walks of life with his music, and be a formidable and unforgettable bass guitarist following in the footsteps of the great Marcus Miller.
Tickets for the show, which starts at 5pm on Sunday, are R70 (R50 for pensioners). Further information from Cingiwe, e-mail: cingiwe.skosana@gmail.com, or Nomgcobo Mkize, nomgcobo mkize@gmail.com, or call 041-586-2256.