 Born in London and raised in Johannesburg, South Africa during the historical era of apartheid, until her passion for music took her to Italy to study opera at the Conservatorio di Milano G.Verdi, followed by the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where she graduated with Honors in 2004. In 2005, she moved to New York City where she experimented with Jazz and World music on a different level. Having had extensive experience as a sideman and band leader in the many facets of the music industry over diverse stylistic approaches from classical to Funk, R&B, Rock and Jazz, she ventured into producing her debut album that captured the essence and energy of her homeland South Africa, combined with her global chops and Berklee experience that had pushed her envelope further.
“Dance Mama!”, a ten-track collection of original compositions and arrangements infused with syncopated rhythms of traditional jazz and South African influenced horn and vocal arrangements, featured the up-and-coming jazz pianist Hiromi, along with the legendary Paul Simon accordion and keyboard player Tony Cedras, Grammy-award winning bassist Bakithi Kumalo and Cape-Jazz Pennywhistle and saxophone guru, Morris Goldberg to name a few. Three of the tracks hit the finals, semi-finals and quarter-finals USA, ISC and UK Songwriting Competitions respectively, while her song "Indaba" won an award for travel agency placement. The album received airplay in the US, Europe and South Africa, and on in-flight World Music play-lists on Continental, Copa, Sri Lankan, Caribbean and United Airlines. In 2010, Christine was featured on CNN International, NBC’s New York Non-Stop, ESPN and Time Out New York. Christine has had the privilege of performing at the world re-known Blue Note Jazz Club in New York, as well as at national and International Music Festivals. Christine's deeply personal experience and transcontinental life has culminated in her songs and remains a source of profound happiness and gratitude, the sunny disposition that echoes throughout her work. |
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