Album Notes

Hennie Bekker continues his sonic journey through Southern Africa with “Amani”, the fifth and latest release in the “African Tapestries” series. This album is a masterpiece of world music and ambient that builds on the first four albums in the series.

“Kwaito,” which means “tough and aggressive”. I tried to convey this on “Feeling Kwaito.”
“Kangela” means “look!” When I was a little boy, I saw an old man doing dance steps on a sidewalk, and he pointed to his legs and said “Kangela!”
In eastern Zimbabwe, there are the Vumba Mountains which were a favorite retreat of mine. I used to go down to a nearby stream at dawn to listen to the sounds of nature and the wilderness.
“Ayize” means “let it happen.” I remember the times when I was a child, and a very old African farmer watching the cattle in the fields wearing just a loin cloth used to chant the word “ayize” to my brothers and me. We were always mesmerized by his rhythms.

Hennie Bekker is a musical pioneer whose eclectic and distinctive sound transcends genre. His award winning career has spanned decades and continents. A multi-platinum selling independent artist, Hennie is best known for his unique sound on the 'African Tapestries', 'SolitudesTM', 'Kaleidoscopes' and 'Tranquility™' album series. He was also a creative force behind the Juno award winning BKS, one of Canada's most successful electronic/dance bands.

Bekker was raised in Mufulira, a Zambian copper mining town 10 miles south of the Congo border. In those early years, he was captivated by the symphonic sounds of the African wilderness, the haunting harmonies of tribal chanting and the rhythmic dialogue of drummers communicating between camps at sundown.

Bekker is a self-taught pianist who had his professional debut at age 15, spending the next decade performing with various bands throughout Zambia, Zaire, Zimbabwe. In later years he experienced the wonders of the bushveld as he traveled 1000 miles of wilderness by motorcycle from the Zambian Copperbelt to Bulawayo in Zimbabwe via the Victoria Falls (The Smoke That Thunders). His journey, so close to the wild, forced him on one occasion, to wait a comfortable distance away from a herd of elephants crossing the road. Bekker's travels eventually took him to Kenya, the congo and then to South Africa where he established himself as a composer and bandleader. His success as a fusion-jazz musician and bandleader elevated him to become the musical director for one of South Africa's largest record companies. There, he added scores of film, television, radio and commercial music to his list of career accomplishments.

In the late 70's, Bekker brought his musical skills to London, England, where he arranged, conducted and co-produced together with South African producer Emil Zoghby, albums for such notable artists as Freddie Cole, Magna Carta and Stanley Black. Later, Bekker returned to South Africa where he became one of the most prolific film, television and jingle composers in the country.

In 1987, Bekker emigrated to Canada where he concentrated on commercial work, and composed and recorded over twenty instrumental albums for stock-music companies. This experience led him to Solitudes, where he composed ambient melodies to compliment Dan Gibson's nature sounds. The two collaborated on the first fourteen Exploring Nature With Music albums, a highly successful series that has sold gold, platinum, double platinum and triple platinum volumes.

Having established himself as a top independent World music, Relaxation and Easy Listening composer, Bekker went on to compose, arrange and produce a solo series of soothing, meditative, nature inspired albums. In the 'Kaleidoscopes' and 'Tranquility' series, he applied his signature style to original songs that captured the essence of a mood, memory or season as well as interpretations of familiar classics, carols and lullabies. His renowned 'African Tapestries' series pays homage to his homeland, an expedition of World music interwoven with sounds from his roots.

Bekker is a master of musical technology, using the full resources of his state-of-the-art studio to blend, stretch, layer and enhance his core sounds. He is a prolific professional who is constantly creating, exploring and recording auditory portraits that captivate a wide audience. His current projects include his latest addition to the 'African Tapestries' series entitled Salama, the release of which will be supported by a new live concert series. Bekker is also developing an 'African Tapestries' DVD and a Wellness series specifically designed for spas, massage, sleep and stress relief. Be it a solo or collaborative effort, an original or interpretive piece, a conventional or inventive track, Bekker's artistry will continue to inspire.