McCoy Mrubata and Gary Wittner

South African jazz legend McCoy Mrubata and Maine’s own guitar guru Gary Wittner celebrate twenty years of cross-continental collaborations.

A recent recipient of the South African Music Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Kennedy Center International Arts Gold Medal, saxophonist and composer McCoy Mrubata was a member of the legendary Hugh Masekela’s band in the 1990’s. Since then he has led his own groups, touring the African continent and Europe extensively. McCoy has released over 20 CDs of original music that combine jazz and elements of traditional South African music.

Guitarist Gary Wittner has performed on 5 continents, representing the USA as a Kennedy Center Jazz Ambassador, Fulbright Specialist, and US Embassy Outreach Artist. Gary has performed with numerous jazz luminaries, and he also leads groups playing original instrumental and vocal jazz, latin and middle eastern music. He has released 7 CDs as a leader, and his book “Thelonious Monk for Guitar” has informed guitarists worldwide since its publication in 1999. Gary is a music faculty member at the University of Southen Maine School of Music and Bowdoin College.

McCoy Mrubata and Gary Wittner have been performing together, both in South Africa and the USA, since 2006.