Jack Mantis Band
The name Jack Mantis triggers somewhat mysteriously in the memory of most that encounter it. Yet the story behind the name – behind the man – remains largely untold. The last five years has seen the enigmatic front man of the Jack Mantis Band travel the world living out his various passions as musician, graffiti artist, adventurer and ultimately soul searcher.
Having just returned from a three month European Tour spanning 25 000 miles, including a performance for a live TV broadcast viewed by millions of people, the Jack Mantis Band embark on a nationwide tour of South Africa.
JMB quickly established itself as a household name within the Cape Town music scene in the 2000’s – ruling Café Dharma (Kloof Street) and later Zula Bar as well as going on to feature at some of the country’s major festival line-ups including Rocking the Daisies, Oppikoppi, Splashy Fen, Flamjangled Tea Party, Flux Festival and White Mountain Folk Festival. This the band accomplished without releasing an album in South Africa, which remains testament to the power that JMB’s live performance had even at the very start of their career. Live performance is the quintessence of music for Mantis, which is expressed in the various incarnations the band’s stage shows have taken on over the years – not to mention the collaborations.
Wanderlust and his spirit of adventure has led Mantis on many adventures across the world since 1996, through which he established a loyal following and sustainable career for JMB in Europe. Most recently he achieved mammoth personal feats through his travel – in 2013 he found himself embarking on a year-long journey: sailing from South Africa to Namibia, on to the island of St Helena, then Port Natal and finally to the Brazilian capital of Manaus. From here, Mantis made what can only be described as a pilgrimage – exploring the Amazon solo for a full 8 months, which led him all the way to the majestic Angel Falls before slowly circling back to South Africa via Trinidad, Tobago and Barbados.
With a history steeped in music and a lifetime spent gaining insight and wisdom the world over, Mantis brings something truly generous to his performances – something that speaks to a common humanity and togetherness. The brotherhood and familiar jam-band groove between JMB’s members, as well as the sincere heart expressed through their music, is tangible. It is apparent and undeniable that their vision is to create a conscious shift through their music and to hold a space within which meaningful shared experiences can take place. For those lucky enough to share in it, JMB leads you on an unforgettable journey, no matter which incarnation it appears in. While the band is still based in Europe, his wanderlust has inevitably led Mantis back home to South Africa where he intends to pick up where he once left off many moons ago.
With a sound that continues to shift, change and grow – something which is vital for him in order for JMB’s performance to retain its power – Jack Mantis takes to the road with guitarist Andre Geldenhuys (formerly Machineri, core member of Fantasma with Spoek Mathambo) and Domenico Benigno on keys.
