[2] The Transatlantics favoured many different styles of music, especially that of West and East Africa, but the breakaway group wanted to create something a bit looser and more interpretative, less arranged.
A lesser but important influence was the 1970s avant-garde jazz movement, especially artists like Sun Ra and Pharoah Sanders.
[3] In July 2017 the group reprised their Quest under Capricorn performance at The Gov as part of the Umbrella: Winter City Sounds festival[9] and played with their usual complement at Here's to Now at Coriole Vineyards in December of the same year.
[11] As part of the Adelaide Festival in March 2020, the Afronauts performed a show called "Mad Max Meets The Shaolin Afronauts", where the classic dystopian thriller, the first Mad Max film, was played with subtitles, with accompanying score played live by the band.
Members as listed on their Facebook page as of May 2020[update]:[7] On Flight of the Ancients (2011):[22] Collaborators on Quest under Capricorn (2012):[23] At Blenheim Festival, March 2015:[1] Ross McHenry released an album, Child of Somebody, in July 2016, which was recorded in New York and includes artists Marcus Strickland, Mark de Clive-Lowe, Tivon Pennicott, Duane Eubanks and Corey King.
He also formed the Ross McHenry Trio, with New Zealand drummer Myele Manzanza and pianist Matthew Sheens, who played at the Melbourne International Jazz Festival in June 2016[24] and released an album, The Outsiders, to critical acclaim in 2017.
In 2017, he formed a five-piece band called Didier Kumalo, which pays tribute to some of the classic African jazz ensembles, but influenced by contemporary musical techniques and styles, including electronic and acoustic.
[27][28] Adam Page is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, music educator, and record producer, who has collaborated with both local and international musicians and orchestras.