Marcus Wyatt's One LIfe In The Sun CD launch @ St Joseph's Heritage Home, Johannesburg (Sophiatown)

Sophiatown is not only historically rich due to the politics of the 1950’s, like the removal of black people from the suburb to Meadowlands in Soweto, under the apartheid government. It is also famous for the vibrant and unique culture that developed amongst the residents, before the removals, which included an intriguing appreciation of all forms of arts, and for producing some of South Africa’s greatest black musicians, writers, and artists. It comes as no wonder why the South African jazz trumpeter Marcus Wyatt now calls Sophiatown home, and why he chose the St Joseph's Heritage Home, at the heart of the suburb, to launch his latest album One Life In The Sun.

Although the CD launch on the 19^th of April  2013 was not part of the Sophiatown Jazz Encounter Series, a pioneering initiative by the Trevor Huddleston Memorial Centre to restore the “Old Sophiatown style entertainment and live jazz in an intimate setting”, it was nothing less than what the centre aims to achieve. The setting was very intimate, and the patrons were allowed to bring their own food and drinks.

Watching Marcus and his band performing songs from the new album, and some from the previous albums, I could not resist imagining what it was like to watch such quality live jazz in Sophiatown back in the 50’s. For me watching this world-class South African jazz show in Sophiatown was an inexplicable experience, with mixed feelings of excitement, sadness and appreciation, and you will have to experience it to understand.  

On Trumpet and Flugelhorn Marcus played soothing melodies that were conversational in nature, almost like he was speaking a foreign language and yet we all understood the message. He also played some played some muted tunes, which left a warm feeling and an instant desire to get a copy of the new CD from the back of the hall, where they were sold. 

Besides Marcus’ great compositions and the band’s world-class performance, there were other highlights during the performance, amongst them an enchanting “joint solo” by the two bassists, Romy Brauteseth and Amaeshi Ikechi - something I had personally never seen before.  Mthunzi Mvubu on alto saxophone was captivating as always, and it was also great to finally get to watch Buddy Wells live, whom I had listened to on many South African jazz albums. Justin Badenhorst’s energetic solos were also something to take note of. A great experience overall!

Many thanks to Marcus Wyatt and his band, and Khosi Hlatswayo of the Trevor Huddleston Memorial Centre, for making this post possible.  Photos from the show are included below… Enjoy!

                                                      Marcus Wyatt on Trumpet.

                                                             The full band.

                                                 Mthunzi Mvubu on Alto Saxophone.                                  

                 

                                                Romy Brauteseth on Bass.

                                               Buddy Wells on Tenor Saxophone.

                                                 Amaeshi Ikechi on Bass.

                                               Justin Badenhorst on Drums.

Jazz In The Craddle : Tribute To Zim Ngqawana

When the NIROX Foundation and Gallery Momo came up with the concept of jazz concerts in the outdoor amphitheater of the NIROX Sculpture Park following an intimate performance by Zim Ngqawana at Nirox's music room, there was no way of telling that the second concert would be a tribute to the man who inspired the initiative and that he would no longer be with us.

On June 2nd 2013, the spirit of Zim Ngqawana lived on, when five of South Africa's finest jazz musicians performed live in the second Jazz In The Craddle concert, themed "Tribute To Zim". The musicians were Ayanda Sikade(drums), Feya Faku(Trumpet), Herbie Tsoaeli(bass), McCoy Mrybata(Saxophone) and Nduduzo Makhathini(Keys), who have all played with the late Zim Ngqawana in the past.

The concert was preceded by an exhibition in the sculpture park, and a performance by the Young Lions Love Ensemble. The event was well-attended by people of all ages, and every ticket came with a complimentary bottle of wine. It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon : Well-behaved crowd, good wine and world-class jazz, in the Cradle of Humankind.

 

 

 

  

McCoy Mrubata and Friends @ Niki's Oasis, Johannesburg (Newtown)

McCoy Mrubata performed with his band of long-term friends at Niki's for the first time on this Good Friday night, 29 March 2013. The venue was not as busy as it usually is due to the performance being on Good Friday, but the band delivered a high-quality, intimate performance nonetheless. They played two definitive sets, including in them the popular Jo’burg Mountains, which McCoy said was inspired by the mine dumps in the City of Gold, the “Yellow Mountains”. They also included in the sets Icamagu Livumile from the album with the same title, that won a SAMA(South African Music Award) in 2004 for Best Traditional Jazz album, and my personal favorites Entlombeni and Mr and Mrs Adonis - I can hear you scatting “daabee-daabee-dee-bee-daa” to the mere mention of this one !

There are very South African jazz artists who have managed to steer clear of the pure American and European jazz sounds, opting instead to predominantly fuse jazz elements with indigenous South African elements, in their music, like the chants and drumming of traditional healers, the Xhosa rhythms and sounds, and the elements of Mbaqanga and Goema music. McCoy Mrubata is one of those artists. Other artists that have followed this route are piano maestros Abdullah Ibrahim and Themba Mkhize,  the late Zim Ngqawana and the 2013 South African Music Award winner for Best Jazz Album, Herbie Tsoaeli, to name but a few.

The McCoy and Friends sextet was made up of McCoy Mrubata on Flute and Saxophone, Paul Hanmer on Keys, Andre Abrahamse on Bass Guitar, Jabu Magubane on Trombone, Bernice Boikanyo on Drums, and Prince Lengwasa on Trumpet and Flugelhorn.

A big thanks to Bra McCoy and Sis Niki, for making this South African Jazz Experience post possible. Below are some photos from the show, do enjoy !

 

McCoy and Friends.

 

McCoy Mrubata on Saxophone.

The horn section.

Then horn section in dance.

McCoy Mrubata on Flute.

 

                                                Prince Lengwasa on Trumpet and Flugelhorn.

                                                       Jabu Magubane on Trombone.

Paul Hanmer on Keys

 Andre Abrahamse on Bass Guitar.

                                                          Bernice Boikanyo on Drums

                                                        "Icamagu Livumileeeee...... "
                                                                                 

Happy International Jazz Day

Happy International Jazz Day my dear friends, keep creating the music, keep collecting the music, keep supporting live jazz, and ... keep it really jazzy ! *Photo taken at the Marcus Wyatt "One Life in the Sun" CD launch*

Lwanda Gogwana @ Katzys, Johannesburg (Rosebank)

On the evening of Tuesday the 26^th of March 2013, Lwanda Gogwana performed his first public show in Johannesburg at Katzys, a posh live music venue in the heart of Rosebank. This, I felt, was a piece of South African Jazz History in the making, and worthy of being noted. The performance was part of an event called “Up-&-Coming”, aimed at promoting aspiring musicians. Many will agree with me that this is a classification that Lwanda, whose debut album Songbook Chapter One was nominated for a South African Music Award (SAMA) for Best Jazz Album (2012), has long outgrown. 

The trendy interior of Katzys and the dim lights created the perfect ambiance for the night. Lwanda’s quintet was the second act of the night, and they put up a great show, despite the 40 minutes time limit each one of the three bands was allowed, on stage. They performed 4 songs in total, two of them from Songbook Chapter One. The other two were Vusi Khumalo’s Song for the Gurus and Ray Hargrove’s Stransbourg St Denis. Lwanda’s soothing trumpet sounds were reminiscent of the sounds of Miles Davies and Roy Hargrove, and the overall performance of the band left everyone with something to smile and talk about on the way home after the show. 

The quintet, whom Lwanda introduced as “the best band in the whole world”, were Sisonke Xonti on Tenor Saxophone, Thandi Ntuli on Keys, Tumi Mogorosi on Drums, Tseke Malatjie on electric Bass, and Lwanda himself on Trumpet and Flugelhorn.

Below are some of the photos from the show. A BIG THANK YOU to Lwanda Gogwana and Mandisa Bardill for making this blog post possible. If you do not have a copy of Songbook Chapter One, you can order it from Jazz Essay Record Bar.

 

Inside Katzys.

 

The Quintet in full swing.

 

Lwanda Gogwana on Trumpet and Flugelhorn.

 

Tseke Malatjie on electric Bass

 

Lwanda and Sisonke doing their bit in Song for the Gurus.

 

  

 Thandi Ntuli on Keys.

  

Sisonke Xonti on Tenor Saxophone

 

Tumi Mogorosi on Drums.

 

Lwanda Gogwana.

Herbie Tsoaeli Quartet @ Niki's Oasis, Johannesburg (Newtown)

On the warm evening of Saturday 16th February 2013 Herbie Tsoaeli and his band performed songs from his debut album African Time, and a few new compositions, to an eager audience at Niki's Oasis, one of Johannesburg's top jazz venues, in Newtown. The audience trickled into the rustic venue whilst the band was doing sound checks, but by the time the show started all the best seats were occupied.

The band wasted no time in dishing out what everyone came for, kicking off the show with an energetic and intense performance of a new composition called "Where are the majors", a song Herbie says he dedicates to the jazz legends that paved the way for him and other jazz musicians. The band played with great enthusiasm and zest throughout the show, and the effect of the energetic improvisations and solos was evident in the audience's regular cheerful applause. Bra Herbie explained the style of play as "Jazz Moya" (Jazz Spirits), which simply means playing jazz with the guidance of spirits. Below are some of the photos from the show.

Big thanks to sis'Niki and the Herbie Tsoaeli Quartet for making this post possible.  

 

The Welcome sign at Niki's Oasis.

The Herbie Tsoaeli Quartet.

Jazz Moya in full swing.

The band's possession by Jazz Spirits was unmistakable.

Herbie Tsoaeli on Bass, giving the crowd what they came for.

Ayanda Sikade on Drums.

Nduduzo Makhathini on Keys.

 Sisonke Xonti on Tenor Saxophone.

Herbie Tsoaeli.