South Africa’s Vuyani Wakaba is the bassist and leader of the jazz/fusion group Vuyani & Friends. Vuyani is also the bassist for the Chicago jazz group 5 Aftr 5 (www.myspace.com/5aftr5). Additionally, Vuyani plays with Phil Upchurch Jr., as well as with Chicago’s world music group The Dadabeat (www.thedadabeat.com). Other engagements on Vuyani’s calendar often include performances in the Pacific Northwest of the United States, as well as freelance work.

Among Vuyani’s musical achievements are performances at the Fox Television stage of The Taste of Chicago Festival, The Erie Jazz and Blues Festival in Erie, Pennsylvania; An invitation to be a staff member at Victor Wooten’s Bass/Nature Camp; Performances with Chicago Blues legend and 2009 Chicago Blues Festival headliner Eddie C. Campbell; Appearances on WGN Television Morning Show and South Africa’s S.A.B.C. Television network; a performace on The Loop – Chicago’s biggest radio station – WLUP 97.9. Vuyani owns and operates PowerNoise, a digital recording studio.

Vuyani Wakaba plays jazz, blues, funk, soul, R&B, and fusion. Vuyani is a rock solid supportive bassist in every performance situation. Vuyani prides himself on being reliable, trustworthy, and always prepared.

Vuyani endorses the following products: - The Music Cord by Essential Sound Products (www.essentialsound.com)

- The AxePort Pro by Centrance (www.centrance.com)

- iGig instrument gig bags.