Bonginkosi Madonsela Quartet (BMQ)

Bonginkosi Madonsela Quartet (BMQ) is an eclectic and innovative jazz quartet based in Pretoria,
South Africa and comprising of Bonginkosi Madonsela on piano, Bafana Ndhlovu on bass, Jaques
Meyer on drums and Papi Koloi on Saxophone. The members include young musicians who each
have their own unique story that makes the unique sound of the band. They are quickly becoming
highly sought after in locally & internationally as a session band- and in the process of releasing their
new album.
Combined, the members of BMQ have worked and studied under some of the very top musicians in South
Africa- From Moses Taiwa Molelekwa, Don Laka, Sello Galane, Mabe Thobejane to name but a few. Not only
are they technical players, but each member is a composer, arranger and band leader on their own.
They were recently invited to be the resident band for the first ever Mzantsi Jazz Awards, and left a lot of
people awed by their spirited accompaniment for artists like Mdu Mtshali, Dumza Maswana, Mimi Mtshali, and
Nia Mo. BMQ draws musical influence from rich traditional African elements with a base drawn from the
phenomenology of the band members. A vibrant outfit full of rhythmic complexities and melodies.
The program includes mainly Joint and individual original compositions, as well as African standards celebrating
some of the great African musicians. The aim is to showcase their diverse culture through music yet keeping the
approach and renditions modern and fresh.