Blu Bam-Boo

Members

Veronique Lalouette – Lead Vocal

Acclaimed vocalist Veronique Lalouette has shared the stage with some of SA's top performing artists, such as Danny K, Loyiso, Juanita du Plessis, Steve Hofmeyer, PJ Powers, and many more, and is also an in-demand studio singer, with her vocal talents being used on numerous radio and television adverts. Her career highlights  2005 include finishing third in the local hit reality TV show, “Idols”. Her subsequent debut album boasted a SAMA nomination, as well as two No 1 hit singles in 2006. She wows audiences both locally and internationally with her dynamic stage presence and vocal range.  

Nigel Morkel – Lead Vocal

Nigel Morkel has been performing as a dancer, singer, songwriter and actor since his school days in Cape Town. He was a drama student at John Vander Ross in 1994, and performed with various Gospel bands in the nineties. He was a Coca Cola Popstars finalist in 2002, and became a member of the nationally acclaimed band Afro Z, and in 2004 he shared the international hip hop championship trophy. In 2005 he joined Barnyard Theatre performing in shows such as Safari, Born To Run, Glory Days, and Buddy Holly, amongst others. International experience include touring the Netherlands with Diamonds And Dust, and Turkey withThat's Entertainment.

Neill Ettridge – Drums / Percussion

Neill Ettridge studied at the Drum Institute in London and commenced playing in a number of diverse musical situations in the UK, including BBC TV and Radio Big Band engagements. Along with a 6-month spell as resident shipboard drummer for P&O and Cunard, Neill also spent some time touring across the U.K and Europe with Jazz-Fusion band New Vintage and U.S.A Soul group The Tymes.  Neil came to Southern Africa in the late 80s, mainly to back various visiting British and American artists such as Percy Sledge, Frankie Vaughn, O.C.Smith, George Williams, The New Seekers and Harry Bellefonte, and returned in the early 90's to continue freelance and studio work here.

Along with an extensive workshop schedule, Neill has undertaken numerous music projects, including tours of Eastern Europe with the Light Years Jazz Quartet, supporting John McLaughlin at the Gdansk Jazz Festival and Moscow Conservatoire, as well as participating in the Hong Kong Handover and Frankfurt Music Festival concerts with Mango Groove, and a world tour as drummer for the Soweto String Quartet. Other core work in SA includes TV music shows, radio/television commercial jingles, record projects and live concerts with top local artists.  Neil, an international endorsee for Sonor Drums, Zildjian Cymbals and Pro-Mark Signature Drumsticks, also features as backing musician in both the Idols and Project Fame TV series, playing alongside Earth Wind and Fire in the recent finals, and drums for Jerry Springer's Saturday Night house band.

Sydney Mavundla – Trumpet

Sydney received his first Cornet lessons from his father at the age of 12, and cultivated his love for music and Jazz through further studies with Prince Lengoasa, Brian Thusi, Cyril Khumalo and Darius Brubeck at the University of Natal. In 1995, Sydney went to Florida International University as an exchange student, where he had the opportunity to have lessons from the legendary Cuban trumpeter, Arturo Sandoval, and John Bailey. Back in South Africa, Sydney teamed up with Steve Dyer, touring Germany, Holland, Zimbabwe and Cape Town with the productions "Southern Freeway" and "Mahube".  Sydney has played with many other top South African musicians including Vusi Khumalo, Jimmy Dludlu, Victor Ntoni, McCoy Mrubata and the late Moses Molelekwa. He regularly appears with acts and artists like Bruce Cassidy in "Hot Foot Sympathy Orchestra", the Graham Scott Big Band, JMI (Johannesburg Music Initiative Orchestra) and Mango Groove.

Denny Lalouette – Electric & Acoustic Bass / Backing Vocals

Danny was born in Mauritius where he started playing guitar at age 8. He emigrated to SA at the age of 14, and started playing drums before finally starting the Bass at the age of 16.  Today Denny is one of the most sought-after studio and live bassists in South Africa, performing and recording with a wide range top names.  His Bass work was mentioned in a rave review of Andy Narell's “Live in South Africa” album in the respected American “Bass Player” magazine. Denny, an endorsee of Yamaha basses, MarkBass amplifiers and unofficial endorsee of NS electric Upright Basses, has played on over 2000 recordings, and has performed on countless commercials and TV shows, including IDOLS band (yearly), Strictly Come Dancing (2006), Huisgenoot Skouspel (yearly), and the local Jerry Springer series, to name a few. Denny has also performed extensively in Prague, Warsaw, Gdynia, Moscow, Budapest, Switzerland, Germany, Holland, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Seychelles and many of the African countries.

Brendan Ross – Lead Vocal / Saxes / Keyboards

Brendan Ross has been working in the music industry for about 20 years and is in high demand as a Saxophonist, Keyboard Player and a Vocalist. Over the years he has worked with the who's who of the South African music industry, rubbing shoulders with international artists like Annie Lenox, Peter Gabriel and Queen, whilst enjoying a 6 year stint as band member of South African legend Johnny Clegg. He is currently very involved in the Afrikaans music scene, and also runs a recording studio where numerous television and radio soundtracks have been written and recorded. In 2010 Brendan started a record label under which he recently released his own self-titled instrumental and vocal album, which has received high acclaim.