Chilean jazz guitarist Tito al Uribe and Afro-folk singer Msaki are on the Jazz in the Native Yards bill at Kwa Sec over Heritage Jazz Weekend. See them from 23 to 24 September 2018 at Ny 138 no. 52 Gugulethu from 3pm.
After pioneering Latin rock and later jazz in Belgium, in 2015 Uribe moved to from his native Chile to settle in Rwanda, where he has been interacting with many Rwandan musicians. He arrived in Rwanda with his wife who works with the Belgian Embassy, and set up a school that teaches “real jazz style”, he says.
A multi-style solo guitarist, arranger and composer of 40 years, Uribe is excited to be in Cape Town to work with young musicians. “My passion has always been to work with a variety of musicians from all backgrounds. Music has a universal power to bring people together, this is a best way to celebrate,” he adds.
On Sunday, 23 September Uribe will appear with young local jazz musicians Tefo Mahola on drums and Steve de Sousa on bass.
Folk, symphonic, African polyrhythms
Asanda Lusaseni Mvana, aka Msaki, was born in the East London and grew up between East London, Butterworth, Grahamstown, Peddie, Nqamakhwe and Cathcart – where her love of music was rooted within family.“My father was a great influence in my music career. He was a DJ while studying at the University of Fort Hare. He also ran choirs. And my grandfather was a well-known composer,” she adds
Msaki’s compositions combine soulful folk with symphonic movements, Xhosa lyrics and African polyrhythms. While studying Visual Art and Design in 2008 in the East London, she became part of an alternative rock band. She started spending time in friend’s studios and contributed to the underground scene where music was recorded and shared unofficially.
In 2009 went to Grahamstown to further her studies in Visual Arts where she formed her first band. A self-taught guitarist who first picked up the instrument in 2010 while on student exchange programme at Leeds University in England. Msaki spent long hours in her room writing songs. In 2012 she was selected to study in North Carolina USA with 30 creators.
“It is at that time that I focused on creating music. Finding my own spirituality led to express myself much freely through music and on my return home, I signed with Indie Label, One Shushu Day Artistry,” she explains.
In 2013 Msaki released an EP, Nal’ithemba, produced by Cobus Van Dyk. She them released her debut album Zeneliza: How the Water Moves under her label One Shushu Day Artisty in 2016. “Zaneliza is about loss, hope and the wave-like rhythms in between those two states of being,” says Msaki. The album was co-produced with award-winning jazz pianist Nduduzo Makhatini.
Who: Tito al Uribe, Tefo Mahola, Steve da Sousa
When, where: 23 September 2018, Kwa Sec, Ny 138 no. 52 Gugulethu, Cape Town, 3pm
Tickets: R100, R80 students/pensioners
Who: Msaki, 24 September 2018
When, where: 24 September, 2018, 3pm
Tickets: R120/R80 students and pensioners
Book for both shows: And pay R200, R160 students/pensioners
Kwa Sec tickets: 060 960 8935
WS
