Feya Faku Quintet with Retsi Pule jazz vocalist - live at Stirling High School, East London, SA.

Trumpeter Feya Faku's musical concepts explore his early cultural roots. Growing up in New Brighton near Port Elizabeth he has become one of the Eastern Cape’s most important jazz musicians, ranking internationally as a significant figure in South African jazz. He excels as a band leader encouraging each individual member’s own expression.

The quintet featured the following members:

Feya Faku – Trumpet/Flugelhorn
Bokani Dyer – keyboard
Shane Cooper – bass
Riley Giandhari – drums
Keenan Ahrends - guitar



The band were joined on this number by Retsi Pule on vocals: Call It Stormy Monday but Tuesday Is Just as Bad by T-Bone Walker.

Retsi is a jazz singer from the Eastern Cape. Born in King William's Town in 1940, he sang in the school and church choirs and also participated in various talent competitions. As a young boy, Pule fell in love with jazz - he would listen to Sammy Davis Jr., Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. Today he is still very fond of American jazz and finds inspiration from the swanky, blues notes and vocals. In the 1950’s and 1960’s, Pule started performing with close harmony groups around the East London area. They would compose their own songs in the style of South African jazz, which gave them a different, energetic sound. In 1978 he released his debut album, Sdudla (to move in Zulu).

Original Lyrics:
They call it stormy Monday but Tuesday's just as bad
They call it stormy Monday but Tuesday's just as bad
Wednesday's worse and Thursday's also sad
Yes, the eagle flies on Friday and Saturday I go out to play
Eagle flies on Friday and Saturday I go out to play
Sunday I go to church, then I kneel down and pray
Lord have mercy, Lord have mercy on me
Lord have mercy, my heart's in misery
Crazy about my baby, yes, send her back to me