Sean Bergin (29 June 1948 – 1 September 2012) was an

avant-garde jazz Avant-garde jazz (also known as avant-jazz and experimental jazz) is a style of music and improvisation that combines avant-garde art music and composition with jazz. It originated in the early 1950s and developed through to the late 1960s. Ori ...

saxophonist and flautist from South Africa. Bergin was born in

Durban Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...

on 29 June 1948. He was a saxophonist, flautist, composer, educator and bandleader. In his youth Bergin was influenced by the rich South African jazz. During

apartheid Apartheid (, especially South African English: , ; , "aparthood") was a system of institutionalised racial segregation that existed in South Africa and South West Africa (now Namibia) from 1948 to the early 1990s. Apartheid was ...

, he performed illegally with black musicians. He is one of the expatriates of South African jazz to find success elsewhere. From 1976 he lived in

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the capital and most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population of 907,976 within the city proper, 1,558,755 in the urban ar ...

. In addition to his M.O.B. ("My Own Band") project, Bergin was active in Trio San Francisco (a saxophone trio with

Tobias Delius Tobias Delius (born 15 July 1964) is a tenor saxophonist and clarinettist. Early life Delius was born in Oxford, England, on 15 July 1964. His mother was German and his father was Argentine. Delius was brought up largely in England and Germany. ...

and Daniele D'Agaro), the Bug Band (with Paul Stocker), and in several Tristan Honsinger formations. He worked with Mal Waldron,

Louis Moholo Louis Tebogo Moholo (born 10 March 1940), is a South African jazz drummer. He has been a member of several notable bands, including The Blue Notes, the Brotherhood of Breath and Assagai. Biography Born in Cape Town, Moholo formed The Blue ...

Ernst Reijseger Ernst Reijseger (born 13 November 1954) is a Dutch cellist and composer. He specializes in avant-garde jazz, free jazz, improvised music, and contemporary classical music and often gives solo concerts. He has worked with Louis Sclavis, Dere ...

, Boi Akih, and

Miriam Makeba Zenzile Miriam Makeba (4 March 1932 – 9 November 2008), nicknamed Mama Africa, was a South African singer, songwriter, actress, and civil rights activist. Associated with musical genres including Afropop, jazz, and world music, she w ...

. He won the

VPRO/Boy Edgar Award The VPRO/Boy Edgar Award, is an annual award given to a Dutch jazz musician, composer, or bandleader. The individual must have made significant contributions to the Dutch jazz scene over a significant period of time. The award is a sculpture by Dutc ...

in 2000.

Discography

As leader

* ''Kids Mysteries'' (Nimbus) * ''Live at the BIMhuis'' (BV Haast) * ''Copy Cat'' (BV Haast) * ''MOB Mobiel'' (Data) * ''Nansika: Plays the Music of South African Composers'' (Data) * ''Song Mob: Fat Fish'' (Data) * ''Mistakes'' with Ernst Reijseger (Data) * ''Chicken Feet'' (Pingo) * ''Jazz for Freedom'' (Varajazz 1990) * ''Tale of Three City's'' - with Rogério Bicudo (Pingo) * ''Mixing It'' with Rogério Bicudo (Pingo) * ''Lavoro'' with Tristan Honsinger ( CAM Jazz)

As guest

* Alex Maguire's Cat O'Nine Tails - ''Hoki-Poki'' (Wire) * J.C. Tans + Rockets - ''Bust Out!'' (BV Haast, 1983) * Harry Miller Quintet - ''Down South'' (Varajazz, 1984) * J.C. Tans + Rockets - ''A Rocket Symphony'' (BV Haast, 1985) * Tristan Honsinger - ''Picnic'' (Data, 1985) * Barry Altschul Quartet - ''That's Nice'' (Soul Note, 1986) * Louis Moholo's Viva La Black - ''Louis Moholo's Viva La Black'' (Ogun, 1988) * Louis Moholo's Viva La Black - ''Exile'' (Ogun, 1990) * Lebombo - ''Khwela Jazz Khona'' (BV Haast, 1992) * Louis Moholo's Viva La Black - ''Freedom Tour Live in South Afrika 1993'' (Ogun, 1994) * Dedication Orchestra - ''Ixesha'' (Ogun, 1994) * Lebombo - ''Nabakitsi'' (BV Haast, 1995) * Trio San Francisco - ''Prisoners of Pleasure'' (BV Haast, 1996) * Eric Boeren - ''Cross Breeding'' (Bimhuis, 1997) * Night in Torremolinos - ''Maiden Voyage Jazz Orchestra'' (BV Haast, 1999)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bergin, Sean 1948 births 2012 deaths South African people of Irish descent South African jazz saxophonists South African jazz flautists South African expatriates in the Netherlands Dutch jazz saxophonists Male saxophonists Dutch jazz flautists Avant-garde jazz flautists Avant-garde jazz saxophonists Male jazz musicians 20th-century saxophonists 20th-century flautists