Shane Cooper is a bassist, composer and producer based in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is part of the new wave of South African Jazz artists pushing the music forward, and is also known for his work in the electronic/dance music world, as well as commissioned works for films and theatre.
The projects he is currently leading are 6 piece Afro-jazz band Shane Cooper & MABUTA, cinematic 5-piece the Dinaledi Chamber Ensemble, Psych-Kraut-Afro-Jazz group Black Eagle Moon, and live electronica act Card On Spokes. As a sideman you can find him in the Stogie T live band, Radio Sechaba, Thandi Ntuli’s live band, the Kyle Shepherd Trio, and Skyjack. In the past he has also performed and/or recorded with artists like Zim Ngqawana, Lionel Loueke, Shabaka Hutchings, Ndabo Zulu’s Umgidi Ensemble, and many more.
As a composer for film, Shane’s most recent projects have been:
Container by Meghna Singh and Simon Wood (2021).
Sifiso Khanyile’s A New Country (2020).
His most recent work in composition for theatre was in 2019 for SAMSON by Brett Bailey. The production won two awards at Woordtrofees (Woordfees awards) for Best Technical Performance and Best Musical Theatre Production, as well as Best Music Production in Theatre at the Kyknet Fiestas. It also toured to France and Spain in 2021.
For 3 years Shane was part of the curation team for the international jazz festival in Bern, Switzerland called Jazzwerkstatt Bern.
He also writes and performs electronic dance music under the name Card on Spokes, and has shared the stage with Little Dragon, Daedelus, Young Fathers, and performed live on Boiler Room. He’s received radio support from Gilles Peterson, BBC, NPR All Songs Considered, and had a number 1 single on Yfm.
In 2018 he launched Shane Cooper & MABUTA with band members Bokani Dyer, Sisonke Xonti, Robin Fassie, and Reza Khota. Their 1st album ‘Welcome To This World’ dropped in 2018, and is out digitally, and on CD and double-LP. Their 2nd album ‘Finish The Sun‘ came out in May 2022 on Dutch label Dox Records, and also on vinyl through Shane’s very own label Kujua Records. You can see or hear them on the other pages on this site.
For European bookings for MABUTA please contact: amanda@doxrecords.com
For other bookings please contact Shane : mabutamusic@gmail.com
Follow Shane on instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shanecoopersounds/
Follow MABUTA on IG: https://www.instagram.com/mabutamusic/
