Number Three - Music

Tumi And The Volume Is A Popular And Innovative Musical Act From Johannesburg South Africa Known For Combining Jazz And Hip Hop With Complex And Highly Politicized Lyrics. The Group Is Composed Of Members Of The Band 340ml And Tumi Molekane. Drawing Heavily On The Legacy Of Apartheid As Well As The Realities Of Life In Today's South Africa The Volume Has Quickly Become One Of South Africa’s Most Eclectic Music Acts. In Just Over A Year The Group Has Managed To Create A Distinct Musical Accent That Includes Blends Of Samba Reggae And Poetry That Speaks To The Unique Reality Of The South African Experience. Tumi And The Volume Are Made Up Of Four Members. Tumi Molekane Vocals The Centerpiece Of The Group Is An Accomplished South African Poet From Johannesburg. In 2002 He Met Tiago And Paulo Chibanga And Dave Bergman Who Were Playing Backup For MCs At The Bassline In Melville Johannesburg. Tiago And Paulo Are Both Members Of The Mozambiquean South African-Based Band 340ml. For The Production Of Their First Album At The Bassline The Group Added Kyle Rose Smith A Violinist To Complete The Volume. On Their Second Album The Self-Titled Studio Release Smith Is Featured But She Left The Band In Early 2005 To Join Freshlyground. Tumi And The Volume Was Founded When Then-Solo Emcee Tumi Molekane Met The Volume A Backup Band At The Bassline. The First Collaborative Project Which Evolved Into At The Bassline Began In The Beginning Of 2003. Yet Since Before The Release Of Their First Album Tumi And The Volume Have Been Performing Across Southern Africa And Europe. Their First Year Together 2002 Saw Them Mostly Tour South Africa And Contribute To Music Festivals Across The Country As Well As Open For Bigger International Groups Performing In Johannesburg And Cape Town Such As Positive Black Soul From Senegal And Blackalicious From The United States.
The Release And Following Critical Acclaim Of At The Bassline Shot Them Onto A Bigger Stage As The Group Performed At The Quart Festival In Norway Alongside With The Roots And Coldplay. 2005 Through 2006 Saw The Successive Releases Of Their Second Album--And First Studio Album--Tumi & The Volume In First South Africa And Then Europe And North America. Through June And July Of 2006 The Band Traveled To Canada And Performed At The Montreal Jazz Festival. In August Of 2006 Their First Album Was Re-Released On Apple ITunes Music Store. read less