Mr. Cat & The Jackal

Mr. Cat & The Jackal

Mr. Cat & The Jackal is a Cape Town group active since 2006. The project develops from work by Gertjie Besselsen and Jacques du Plessis on the theatrical music score for Marthinus Basson’s award-winning production Die Storm, for which they receive a KANNA nomination. During that period, they experiment with instruments such as xylophones and glockenspiels, then build these sounds into their own songs.

Style and instrumentation

The group’s music is described as experimental acoustic folk with a touch of blues. Its sound uses a wide range of unusual and handmade instruments, including accordion, lap-slide, bouzouki, melodica, kalimba and a large amount of percussion. The project also includes instruments the members make themselves.

Line-up and development

Mr. Cat & The Jackal begins as a project by Besselsen and du Plessis, before becoming a five-piece band. After changing musicians several times, the line-up settles with JC Visser on bass, Bernard Willemse on light percussion and Pierre Theron on low percussion, alongside the two founders.

Recording and performance

Since forming, the group records an album in its own studio, writes and creates songs, performs live in and around Cape Town, and develops a body of theatre soundtracks that ranges from Peter Pan to more serious material. The band also makes a music video, Fresh Meat.

Release

The debut album Themes and Variations is released in 2009.