Named after Cape Town’s fickle weather, creative director and producer of his debut music show, The Four Seasons Music Experience, Hlubi Kwebulana’s main goal is to celebrate Cape Town and its fallen jazz legends with performances by SA jazz musos, influenced by the Mother City. KEANETSE MOKHOTHU connected with him in the north to enquire about his exciting music voyage to the south.
Why a debut theatre production of South African jazz – one which till today requires its players to impart much-needed knowledge to its nation, and the world at large of course?
I was born into music and for as long as I can remember, music was my “happy place”, music of any kind. Whether the acapella melodies of Ladysmith Black Mambazo, the choral sounds of Imizwilili (a choral music programme) – my uncle’s jazz record on Fridays and Saturdays as I washed their cars outside. The occasional visits of the local music makers, such as Bra Victor Ntoni, Bra Winston Mankunku, Bra Ezra Ngcukana, etc. In my career I have explored the acapella fetish I have with my own videos which I have been posting on the socials, but also had my dream come true to share a stage with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, paying tribute to the now late founder, Baba Joseph Shabalala. So now, I feel like exploring the jazz fetish, having been working for a while now, with legends like Bra Victor Masondo and Bra McCoy Mrubata, as close as family can be.
This event kicks off in the Mother City – why is that, as some say the roots of South African jazz are in the Eastern Cape?
Interestingly enough, it is a debate that is ongoing, just like in football there is a debate of who are the Kings of Soweto Football, Chiefs or Pirates? Most will say that in the Eastern Cape lies the roots of South African jazz, and yet jazz greats who have graced international shores, have come and still come from Cape Town. I guess for me, it is a lot more fun to leave it as is. Today it can be Chiefs, and that is ok. Tomorrow it will be Pirates and that too is ok, because they both aptly represent why is it that we love and follow this sport in the first place. But short answer, I am Cape Town born and raised, amongst these very greats I mentioned above. So, this being my first offering, it only makes sense to start in Cape Town.
Speaking of “the roots”, where does The Four Seasons Music Experience originate from?
Cape Town, is it renown or notorious for making people experience all four seasons in one day, with the weather changing ever so unpredictably, constantly. Hence the name “Four Seasons.” But that is just my own way of putting a quirky salute to my home town. The creative departure of this concept, is to stage four seasoned musicians, those who have been representing a particular genre (this year being jazz), to those who have reliably and admirably taken the baton and held it high to the acknowledgement of those who have come before. Lastly, the term “Four Seasons”, represents the completeness of a beginning and an end of an era, time period, having journeyed through the trials and tribulations of what the industry can and will throw at you, as an artist. Hence there will always be a story to tell, beyond just the music.
What does the future look like?
All I can say for now, is that the future is very exciting as we journey with this about-to-be newborn, with the focus being on appreciating, acknowledging, uplifting, remembering, and rebuilding of the gift of art, in all of its beautiful forms. Like leaves through all four seasons.
Do you have any advice for others who would like to stage a local jazz production of this nature?
I believe that in order for anyone to tell an overall story you have to have experience in the various touch points of that story. Meaning, in this case when you talk about local jazz music you have to have experience as a jazz consumer. You have to have experienced jazz from its different presentation point with its media too. Whether it is live. Whether it is an audio, whether it is from somebody talking about their love for a jazz artist or jazz music or song. As for me, I decided that I am going further into becoming an actual custodian as an artist who has worked with both upcoming performers and legends, both local and abroad. I believe that I can tell an individual a story that culminates into a mosaic of singular stories that paint a picture about the overall piece. So, if you are able to tell an individual story based on your experience then you are contributing to the overall story itself.
The Four Seasons Music Experience
At Wave Café Theatre
Friday, 29 September 2023, from 7pm
R200
44 Long Street, Cape Town
Tickets www.catchthewave.co.za
Who: Hlubi Kwebulana Four Seasons Music Experience
WS
