Greg Hadjiyorki Georgiades
(nylon string acoustic guitar, ukelele, oud, vocals)
Greg is one of SA's renowned multi-instrumentalists playing nylon acoustic guitar, bouzouki, Arabic fretless lute (oud), oudtar (guitar/oud hybrid) ukelele and sarod.
He has worked with many musicians both local and internationally where he has played live collaborations and/or appeared on numerous albums by artists such as Miriam Makeba, Simphiwe Dana, McCoy Mrubata, Errol Dyers, Madala Kunene, Steve Newman, Tony Cox, Syd Kitchen, Fethi Tabeth (Algeria), Bob Brosman (USA), Erik Truffaz (France), Brigitte Menon with her group Mukta, Guy Buttery, Marc Duby and even into other genres such as the award winning metal group NOT MY DOG live and on their ‘Braai Vibes' album.
He has played at every major festival in SA and further afield in Zanzibar, Reunion, Namibia, Lesotho, Mozambique, Algeria, Seychelles, Swaziland, UK and Europe. He is a member of the spicy AQUARIAN QUARTET together with Steve Newman, Tony Cox and Errol Dyers, as well as VIVID AFRIKA with McCoy Mrubata, STRINGS&SKINS with Ashish Joshi, ALGRECKO and SCICOUSTIC with Albert Meintjes as well as BANDOLERO with Andre Kriel and IN THE CLOUDS with Steve Newman and Ashish Joshi and new project JIKA NELANGA with Zamo Mbutho, Lungile Dlamini, Godfrey Mncina, Ashish Joshi and Steve Newman.
Greg's is continually on the lookout for more expression and started the new ULTRA NATIVES group with his nephews Jonathan Georgiades on bass and David Georgiades on drums with Jaco Mans on guitars and vocals. Greg has brought the ukelele to the fore with his collaborations with Electro Swing DJ Michael Lesar as well as ULTRA NATIVES and his new project THE ORGANICS with Lanie van der Walt on double bass.
Greg has released numerous albums of his own that show his versatility in terms of technique, composition, creativity and hot storytelling improvisations on his various string instruments.
website: www.greggeorgiades.com email: [email protected]
Jaco Mans
(steel string acoustic guitar, vocals)
Jaco Mans is well known in the Pretoria live music scene and way beyond and can be seen on stage with ULTRA NATIVES, DIE SEE, FAKE LEATHER BLUES BAND and COELACANTH. Ex TIDAL WAVES guitarist, Jaco, plays Fender and Guild guitars and Peavey amps and with a host of pedals and effects he quickly establishes his voice and personality on any project he engages himself with. He has also played with DUCK AND COVER and NAPALMA.
Jaco has recorded on several Tidal Waves albums and has just completed recording new albums with ULTRA NATIVES and DIE SEE. These bands play regularly in Johannesburg and Pretoria and also tour frequently to venues and festivals across the nation. Jaco Mans has taken original music to Mozambique, Swaziland and as far abroad as New Zealand, Germany, Italy, USA, the Netherlands and Belgium, where he performed at the internationally recognised Ghent and Mano Mundo Music Festivals. Jaco also recently returned from tours across Australia and England.
Jonathan Daniel Georgiades
(bass)
Jono has established himself as an accomplished and adventurous guitarist and great bass player playing with many big names on the SA music scene including Feed the Wolf, Chiba Fly, Silt, Namuh, The Action Thrillers, Baobab, Gordon's Suitcase and Dax Butlers 'Them Particles' amongst others. In addition to this he has a fine reputation for great sound engineering and runs his own sound company. He is one of the most 'in demand' musicians on the SA scene.
David J Georgiades
(drums)
A wonderfully refreshing, energetic and funky drummer driving the Ultra Natives group who started playing drums at the age of 13. Dave is Jonathans twin brother and the two have travelled the music journey together from the start. He has played for the Aidan Martin Band, Paul Anthony Band, and is currently with Sea of Green and ULTRA NATIVES. He has also worked with Larry Amos, Baobab, The Action Thrillers, Jonathan Martin's No Quarter and Chiba Fly amongst others.
Expect to be absolutely entertained and refreshed with original non industrialised genre-free music that tells beautiful stories using a variety of instruments including voice.