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.
Great! This is a revival of Live Jazz and really hope that we can have many more people attending these sessions, and many more like them, to make it possible and sustainable! This is the kind of jazz one would pay R350 per gig easily but in this platform it is brought to you almost free of charge! We really need to support acts like these! may the spirit of Live Jazz live on.
ReplyDeleteJazz Moya? It is evident that jazz is a spiritual thing, once you are in it, it becomes a part of you that you can't be separated from! Long live to umculo womngqungqo (jazz)!