High End Blues Band

High End Blues are a group of seasoned musicians, specifically in the genre of Blues.  Our sound has a distinctly Americana feel and the easy listening nature of our Blues music is enhanced by the unusual range of instruments played in a Blues band.  We try to appeal to a musically mature listening audience and pride ourselves on innovative and complex instrumental fusion that gives us our unique tone and feel. 

High End Blues consists of Beshara Ornellas.  Beshara is a well-known singer in Cape Town and the daughter of Dave Ornellas, from the band Hawk, who Julian Laxton was the lead guitarist of in the late 1970’s.

James Kibby, the guitar teacher at the Jazz Workshop.  James has been the guitarist for Basil “Mannenberg” Coetzee, as well as Josh Hawks.  He also has been the guitar teacher amongst others for Riaan Smit of Crimson House and Gerald Clark.

Mark Buchanan – Mark is a well-known South African Blues guitarist, who was the lead guitarist of Just Jinger, Johnny Fourie’s band, Max Normal, Closet Snare and also played guitarist for Nelly Furtado.  High End Blues perform regularly at Cape Town’s prestigious Barley Corn Club and Mark was introduced by one of the Barley Corn’s Board Members, Pete Van Heerden, as South Africa’s best Blues guitarist. 

Ian Buchanan – Ian is a very solid base guitarist and has played with Mark in his various bands over the years.

Mark McDonald – Mark is our drummer and has also been associated with Mark Buchanan for the last 20 years.

Lance Allam – I started my musical performing career with a Blues Grass Band, Blacksmith, playing Fiddle and Mandolin.  In High End Blues, I play blues style violin and mandolin as well as the blue’s harp and guitar when needed.  With the band Blacksmith, I performed at the Knysna Celtic Music Festival various times.  James Kibbey and myself also do vocals.

James Kibby is a master of rhythm and funk and brings this element into the mix.  Mark Buchanan leans towards jazz in his blues playing and I bring the blue grass feel through the violin and mandolin sounds.