Driving Music by Valanga Khoza and Leo Dale

The resultant mix is new and exciting and makes it easy to lay back and listen - Chris Lavery

Driving Music is very refreshing to listen to. It never fails to hold the listener close at hand. The music is literally beautiful and sincerely felt through the golden tones of the saxophones, the richest of vocals, and the soft round sounds of the flutes. Always on high rotation at our house - Martha Baartz

Spirited and buoyant, this music combines an optimistic lyricism with intricate interwoven melodies. A perfect accompaniment to a glorious spring Sunday - I could have this album on repeat from here to Womadelaide - Mark Johnson

Valanga Khoza

Is South African born and bred. He has lived in Swaziland, Mozambique, USA and Australia since 1989. He grew up singing, playing kalimba and the Shijororo (jaw harp) eventually learning to play guitars, traditional flutes and various other African instruments. Along the way he has studied business administration, accounting and worked for an investment banking firm in New York. His performances are distinguished by passionate and energetic presentation of voice, percussion, song, traditional instruments and dance.

Leo Dale

Was born 6 months before Valanga and grew up in Melbourne Australia. He started gigging at the age of 11 and toured to Japan with the National Boys Choir at age 14. At about that time he took up flute and didn't start playing sax until he was 19. He now plays all the saxes two flutes and sings in various groups and is best known for his work with Oxo Cubans. Along the way he has worked planting cane and as a camera operator, a medical records clerk, and a taxi driver. He can organise his way out of anything but saves this talent solely for the production of music.

"Having known each other for 12 years, we finally got together for a gig in mid 2000 and instantly had the feeling: This is too good we must record immediately. Several of the tracks on the album (tracks 1, 3 and 4) are from that recording date, the second time we ever played together. Over the next 18 months there were an additional 2 recording dates and we stuck to the same method of - press RECORD and listen a lot." - Leo

What about their live performances?

Valanga and Leo have decades of experience on large and small stages all around the world. They are specialists in taking their audiences on a journey into a world of sound. Renowned for their performances for children, they quickly develop a strong rapport with all ages through the magic of story telling.

All the sensibilities of ambient groove with the added tonal warmth of beautifully played instruments from traditions around the globe. - the Sydney Morning Herald

Soaring jazz set to the indestructible beat of Soweto - Adelaide Advertiser

Zebra Crossing CD also available through CDbaby (2nd in this series)

Average Customer Review: