Jazz in the Native Yards (JINY) presents the Easter Jazz Weekend featuring Nduduzo Makhathini’s Ikhambi concert with The Cure Collective on Saturday, 15 April at Kwa Sec in Gugulethu from 3pm. With Concerts SA, JINY also brings you bassist Herbie Tsoaeli on Sunday 16 April at Guga S’thebe Cultural Centre in Langa.
Acclaimed pianist Makhathini, a recipient of the 2015 Standard Bank Yound Artist for Jazz will perform with saxophonist Linda Sikhakhane, young trumpeter Robin Fassie Kock, a relative of pop star Brenda Fassie, bassist Sakheel Cullis and Asher Gamedze on drums.
‘Sketches of Tomorrow, Mother Tongue’
Makhathini hails from Umgungundlovu near Pietermaritzburg, where he was exposed to music at an early age. “My mother was a pianist and my father a guitarist, they both exposed me to a range of music including traditional Zulu music, ” says Makhathini.
He recalls turning the knob on the radio until it reached the end, where he would listen to Indian music. Before he could lay his hands on a musical instrument, Makhathini was in a school and church choirs. It was only after high school that he started to study jazz piano.
“I reached a point where my voice limited me from expressing the music, and that’s when I focused on the piano.”
Makhathini has toured the world and shared the stage with musicians such as Zim Ngqawana, Feya Faku Quintet, McCoy Mrubata. He has three albums out, Sketches of Tomorrow, Mother Tongue, which was nominated for best jazz at the SAMA’s 2015 and Listening To The Ground. He is and first recipient of the British Academy Newton Advanced Fellowship Masters Scholarship.
Herbie Tsoaeli – “uMalume”
Bass player Herbie Tsoaeli has been in the jazz circuit for more than two decades. Best known as “uMalume” by his fans, he comes from Nyanga East.
Since moving to Johannesburg in 1995 Herbie performed regularly with Zim Ngqawana, Bheki Khoza, Sibongile Khumalo, and the legendary South African tenor saxophonist, Winston Mankunku Ngozi and featured in Mankunku’s 2003 album, Abantwana be Afrika.
He and jazz pianist Andile Yenana played in the Voice Quintet, together with saxophonist Sydney Mnisi one of South Africa’s veteran drums Lulu Gontsana and trumpeter Marcus Wyatt. They recorded an album, Voice: A Quintet Legacy. He has toured the US and Europe with Zim Ngqawana and participated in an exchange project with Keith Tippet and Mujician.
A recipient of the 2013 Best Jazz Album South African Music Award winner, for his debut album African Time, Tsoaeli has worked with a variety of young jazz musicians. This time around hei will once again perform with young musicians and has dubbed his show Afrikan Time Jazz Meeting with Backyard Township Ensemble.
The band consists of Lonwabo Mafani (piano), Lumanyano Unity (drums), Steven Sokuyeka (trombone) and Robin Fassie Kock (trumpet). Tsoaeli’s performance is supported by Concerts SA.
What: Easter Jazz Weekend – Nduduzo Makhathini’s Ikhambi concert with The Cure Collective, Sat,15 April, at Kwa Sec NY 138, no. 52 Gugulethu, 3pm
What: Herbie Tsoaeli, Sun, 16 April, at Guga S’thebe Cultural Centre, Langa
Info: http://concertssa.co.za, http://twitter.com/ConcertsSA, www.facebook.com/ConcertsSA
Gig info: SMS Luvuyo Kakaza 060 960 8935
WS
