07/04/2026
Shaka Wiz delivers intense ‘world funk’, a mix of funky grooves, rousing Afro Beats, and psychedelic improvisations. At the center is a four-piece horn section that guarantees high-quality funk, soul, and jazz.
Upbeat and exhilarating dance music with influences from world music, jazz, and psychedelia, played by a funky band with a soulful horn section.
A group that also embraces diversity, featuring men and women with different backgrounds and nationalities. In short, perfectly suited for the open, liberal atmosphere for which the Netherlands is renowned, in our opinion.
We are Martin (guitar), Ricky (bass), Julio (percussion), Jean (trumpet, guitar, vocals), Maaike (alto saxophone), Eric (baritone sax), Sander (drums), and various guest musicians.
Together, we build a steaming party that makes both the partygoer and the serious music lover happy. Can we make you happy with that too?
The Shaka Wiz’s songs feature themes that you can easily sing along to or whistle along to, invariably combined with improvised sections where the musicians jam away freely. Danceable grooves alternate infectiously with dreamy, sometimes even meditative passages, immersing the listener in an ecstatic warm bath during a concert. A performance by The Shaka Wiz is a total experience from which the listener returns home in wonder and satisfaction.
In the distant past, guitarist Martijn ‘Hi-E’ Roselaar and singer/trumpeter/guitarist/songwriter Jean ‘Shaka’ Pino played together in the renowned funk formation Groove Syndicate. Many years later, they found each other again and decided to continue their unfinished funk adventure. Bassist Rick Weren joined them, an equally seasoned musician who won the Grote Prijs van Nederland with the band The Kevin Kostners, and the rhythm section was completed with the jazzy grooves of drummer Sander Roerdink and the rousing percussion of Julio Zepeda. The horn section features a motley collection of men and women who enrich The Shaka Wiz's funk with exotic influences, ranging from jazz and soul to Balkan beats, Afro beats, Motown, Latin, reggae, and sometimes even an element of Klezmer.
In short, a very complete blend of mature music that aims to bring a smile to the face of both the partygoer and the serious music lover. And anyone wanting to take a dance is certainly not discouraged by the accomplished musicians of The Shaka Wiz.
They are mature yet youthful, autonomous yet disciplined, lovers of both improvisation and tight compositions, and committed to connecting with people through their music and their live show. They connect young and old, different nationalities and philosophies, boys and girls, and everything in between. Not just through music but through L.O.V.E. Come see for yourself!
