Bassist and songwriter Lucas Senyatso is set to start a national tour, in anticipation of this upcoming second album. The last two weekends of October see him perform in quintet format in Joburg and Cape Town.
For his show at the Afrikan Freedom Station on 20 October, Senyatso will be joined by Nhlanhla Radebe on double bass, Wandile Molefe on keyboard, Teboho Mokoena on tenor sax, and Lungile Kunene on drums.
Olympia Bakery/Jazz in Native Yards
The line-up for two Cape Town performances (Friday 27 at Olympia Bakery, and Saturday 28 at Jazz in the Native Yards) includes Lumanyano Mzi on drums, Sean Sanby on double and electric bass, Blake Hellaby on piano, and Zeke Le Grange on saxophones.
Recognised as one of the top jazz and hardest-working musicians in the country, Lucas Senyatso was born in 1972 in Mafikeng. He enrolled with Mmabana Mmabatho as a bass guitar student in 1986, and four years later he joined local band Shine, playing with them for seven years.
Then, Senyatso explains how his life changed in 1998. “I received a call from the legendary Hugh Masekela, to join his band on a full time basis. I immediately flew to USA and Europe for a tour. Every three to six months we were out of the country performing overseas. Countries and cities being toured are too many to mention. That was the beginning of bigger things. In no time, word of mouth spread all over Johannesburg about the new bassist in town. Suddenly my phone was ringing all the time, as all the big stars in South African music industry wanted to work with me.”
Stars like Sibongile Khumalo, Themba Mkhize, Gloria Bosman, Judith Sephuma, Caiphus Semenya and Letta Mbulu, Rene, Sophie Mcqina, Mara Louw, Siphokazi, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Stimela, Khaya Mahlangu, Andile Yenana, Selaelo Selota, Ringo Madlingozi, Patty Austin (USA) and Keiko Matsui (Japan) have used his services as a studio session musician, live performer and songwriter.
‘Baby You’ single
In 2006 Senyatso released his debut album, All of Me (EMI Records). The album received two SAMA nominations, and the single Baby You was number 1 on Kaya FM’s Top 30 for over two months. In 2007 Senyatso recorded and toured Japan with Keiko Matsui with her Moyo project.
After spending 15 years in Joburg he now gives back to his community teaching bass guitar: “It is my responsibility to give back to my community, and also to the institution that made me who I am today. I am very excited to be part of the teaching staff at Mmabana Mahikeng”,
In recent years, Senyatso has continued to write and produce music for other artists, having written songs lately for Thembisile and Siphokazi, and performed with Ken Philmore (Trinidad), at the latest edition of the Joy of Jazz Festival in Sandton.
Where, when to see him:
Johannesburg – Afrikan Freedom Station,
Friday 20th October – 8pm – R80
Address: 41 5th Ave, Westdene, Johannesburg
Book: 083 718 7190 / stevekwenamokwena@gmail.com
Cape Town – Olympia Bakery Café,
Friday 27th October – 8pm – R150
Address: 134 Main Road, Kalk Bay, Cape Town
Book: 021 788 6396 / info@olympiacafe.co.za
Cape Town – Jazz in the Native Yards @ KwaSec,
Saturday 28th October – 5pm – R70
Address: NY 138, Gugulethu, Cape Town Book: 078 986 7344 / luvuyo@cpo.org.za
What: Lucas Senyatso tour – South African jazz
Artist Links: www.youtube.com/channel/UCdOVwmQCgWVCS-H2FzL0qlw, www.facebook.com/lucas.senyatso.5, www.open.spotify.com/album/0RH5rEwlwtFFOXOqRCG2Dy
WS
