Morris Goldberg New York based composer, saxophonist, clarinetist, penny whistler and vocalist, Morris Goldberg recently completed recording his third album with his group, OJOYO. Mr. Goldberg grew up in Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa, and nurtured musical roots that span jazz, classical music, bebop and mbaqanga. Well known to jazz lovers, Mr. Goldberg won popular acclaim through his featured performances on Paul Simon’s “Graceland” album. He played the penny whistle solo on the hit song, “You Can Call Me Al”. Goldberg performed with Hugh Masekela, among others, before leaving South Africa to broaden his musical horizons. In the United States, he attended the Manhattan School of Music, where he received Bachelor and Master of Music degrees. He regularly recorded and performed with artists such as Miriam Makeba and Harry Belafonte. He also worked with Jonathan Butler and exiled singer Letta Mbulu. In 1974 Mr. Goldberg returned to Cape Town and participated in Abdullah (Dollar Brand) Ibrahim’s recording, “Mannenburg”, on which he was featured. In 1991, Goldberg was featured in Hugh Masekela’s spectacular homecoming tour, “Sekunjalo”, a twenty date road show that featured Masekela, Bayete and Sankomoto. From 1980 until 1988, Morris traveled and performed with Harry Belafonte. He appeared on three videos. The last one, “An Evening With Harry Belafonte And Friends”, was done for PBS, and can still be seen on PBS stations throughout the country. Goldberg attained nationwide acclaim as saxophonist and wind specialist on “The Rosie O’Donnell Show”, for the six year duration of the television show, from 1996 until 2002. During that time he accompanied many artists such as Tony Bennett, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Phil Collins and more. In March of 2005 Goldberg performed at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival with his band, “OJOYO”. In 1993, 1994, 1998 and 1999, Goldberg returned to South Africa to perform at the Standard Bank Jazz Festival in Grahamstown. In 2004 he did an extensive tour of the USA with Hugh Masekela, playing major jazz festivals, and culminating in the Playboy Jazz Festival, Los Angeles, which was recorded and aired on WBGO Newark, and WLIU Southampton. In 2005 Morris was interviewed by Judy Carmichael for her show, “Jazz Inspired”. This was aired on WLIU radio. In June he appeared at Estia Cantina as part of their jazz series. Morris remains based in New York, but retains strong links with Cape Town and its musicians. His newest production: Township Jive Meets Rhythm and Blues was featured on August 29, 2006 at the John Drew theater at Guild Hall, in East Hampton, NY. In this production, Cameroon diva Kaïssa meets R&B dynamo Ty Stephens and Branice McKenzie. They are joined by OJOYO, saxophonist Morris Goldberg's band, in a fusion concert of World Music. The ensemble plays and sings a selection of songs made popular by Miriam Makeba, plus Rhythm and Blues original and standard material, and original compositions by Morris Goldberg. The production’s musical directors are Morris Goldberg and Richard Cummings. The OJOYO sound is Safrojazz, a combination of South African and American music. Cape Town born Morris Goldberg combined the sounds of his Township heritage, with the American music he learned to love. Other members of OJOYO include Richard Cummings (keyboards), South African composer and musician Anton Fig (drums), renowned by his tenure on “Late Night with David Letterman” and for performing with Paul Simon; along with another Simon tour mate - South African musician and composer Tony Cedras (keyboards, trumpet, accordion, vocals), who also toured the world with Amandla Cultural Ensemble in exile; and Chulo Gatewood, who has toured with Harry Belafonte and accompanies Tony Bird on the album "Sorry Africa", Damon Duewhite (drums) and Dan Carillo (guitar).

Tony Cedras

BORN in Elsies River, Cape Town in 1952, Tony Cedras is a sought after session player who has toured the world as part of the Gracelands show band, and before that, as a member of Amandla cultural ensemble in exile.

Cedras' first musical experiences were in the local church choir, singing and also playing accordion. He soon progressed to trumpet, taking in the local jazz scene, as well as the American jazz influences prominent in South Africa at that time.

Cedras became a key session player in the Cape jazz circuit, working with artists such as Jonathan Butler, tenor saxophonist Winston Mankunku Ngozi, altoist Robbie Jansen, flautist/guitarist Russel Herman, and bassist Basil Moses. The Estudio project, together with Robbie Jansen and others was acknowledged as a highlight of this period.

After touring inside South Africa, Cedras relocated to Gaborone, in the neighbouring state of Botswana in the early 1980's. At that stage, Botswana was a home-away-from-home for many exiles, and it was here that he met trombonist/bandleader Jonas Gwangwa. Gwangwa was the musical director of the Amandla ensemble of the ANC, which Cedras joined, travelling not only in Africa, but also in Europe, Canada and Brazil.

While working with Amandla, Cedras spent time in London, where he made contact with other South African artists who were part of the ex-patriot South African music scene. He moved there in 1985, and soon formed the group Kintone, a band which "explored the common musical ground between its West Indian and South African membership". Kintone recorded two albums for Sterns Africa, and built a solid live performance profile in the UK.

Late in 1986, Cedras returned to Southern Africa. He again worked with the exile artists community, participating in the Buwa project headed by Caiphus Semenya and Letta Mbulu. This musical toured extensively in Africa. While in Zimbabwe, Cedras was contacted with the request for him to join the Graceland tour band. Hugh Masekela had recommended to Paul Simon that Cedras could provide valuable musical input. Cedras thus toured with Paul Simon's Graceland for most of the period 1987 - 1989, and then from 1990 -1992 with Simon's Born at the Right Time tour.

Having built a solid working rapport with Masekela and Miriam Makeba (who also participated in the Gracelands tour), he did extensive work with their respective bands. He also toured with Harry Belafonte during 1993 and Henry Threadgill in 1994. His debut solo album, Vision Over People was released during this period, and he also returned to perform in his home, Cape Town.

Recording credits include work with Paul Simon, Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Joan Baez, Harry Belafonte, Ziggy Marley, Henry Threadgill, Milton Nascimento, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Cassandra Wilson, and Jonathan Butler.

Tony Cedras is based in Brooklyn, New York, where he regularly performs with fellow ex-patriots such as bassist Bakithi Kumalo and saxophonist Morris Goldberg. He frequently works with trumpeter Chris Botti, drummers Damon Duewhite and Maciek Schejbal, percussionist Cyro Baptista, and Cameroonian-born vocalist Kaissa.

This biog - Steve Gordon, 2003

Anton Fig

Born in Cape Town, South Africa, Anton began playing drums at age four. After performing in numerous successful local rock bands he moved to Boston to further pursue his musical interests. His formal education included studies at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, studying both jazz and classical disciplines graduating with Honors in 1975. In 1976 he moved to New York where he began to establish a career as a freelance musician. Anton is presently a member of the "CBS Orchestra" appearing nightly on 'Late Show with David Letterman' - a position he has held since 1986. During this tenure he has played with scores of great artists including Miles Davis, James Brown, Bruce Springsteen, Stevie Winwood, Bonnie Raitt and Tony Bennett. The CBS Orchestra has backed up a host of artists in other venues such as Stevie Wonder, Faith Hill, Little Richard and BB King at the closing ceremonies of the summer Olympic Games in Atlanta. They also backed Al Green, Gloria Estefan, In Sync and Eric Clapton for VH1's Save the Music concert at the White House. The CBS Orchestra is also the house band for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, playing with music's most influential personalities. Most recently they were the backup band for the concert for New York City where they performed with David Bowie, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy, Macy Gray, and James Taylor. Some of the many recordings Anton has made include selections with Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, Kiss, Cyndi Lauper, Madonna, Gary Moore, Spider, Ace Frehley, Joan Armatrading, Rosanne Cash, Joe Cocker, John Phillips, Warren Zevon, Sebastian Bach and Paul Butterfield. As a freelance drummer Anton has also played live with Paul Simon, Booker T and the MG's, The Thompson Twins at Live Aid, and played alongside Jim Keltner for Bob Dylan's 30th Anniversary concert celebration. In 1996 Anton released a drum instructional video and book entitled "In the Groove" and "Late Night Drumming". Anton has just completed his first solo record entitled "Figments". Produced and co-written by Fig, the record represents 3 years of work and includes among others singers and musicians Richie Havens, Brian Wilson, Ivan Neville, Sebastian Bach, Ace Frehley, Al Kooper, Chris Spedding, Donald 'Duck' Dunn, Blondie Chaplin, Paul Shaffer, Chris Botti, Randy Brecker and Richard Bona. Anton continues to be an in demand studio and live musician and is currently recording and composing for numerous projects, including OJOYO.