KESIVAN & THE LIGHTS

Long-anticipated solo album from Kesivan Naidoo.

2009 Standard Bank Young Artists Award Winner for Jazz Kesivan Naidoo launched his long-anticipated debut solo album Kesivan & The Lights: Instigators of the Revolution earlier this month at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

The album is the culmination of Naidoo’s musical journey over the last 15 years and the band is a combination of some of his favourite musicians in the world.

Joining Naidoo (on drums) for the launch of the album was the virtuosic alto saxophonist from Stockholm, Johan Hörlén; Australian trombonist Adrian Mears, a leading light in the European avant garde; Reza Khota, steeped in Indian and Classical guitar; adventurous pianist Mark Fransman; one of Europe’s busiest bass players, Sweden’s Martin Sjöstedt; one of Sweden's most inspired tenor saxophone players, Karl-Martin Almqvist. The Lights were joined on stage by the legendary Feya Faku on trumpet.

Naidoo has made his presence felt strongly in South Africa over the past decade and has begun to carve himself an international reputation. His particular strengths are a transformatory energy on stage, a keen commitment to maintaining the integrity of his artistic expression, and a willingness to explore all musical genres in an effort to give voice to the music inside. Throughout his career he has performed with many great musicians such as Bheki Mseleku, Miriam Makeba, Zim Ngqawana, Feya Faku, Selelo Selota, Judith Sepumba, Errol Dyers, Hotep Galeta, Steve Newman, Carlo Mombelli and Bruce Cassedy.

His future aspirations include composing a concerto for jazz drums and orchestra and becoming the Minister of Arts and Culture of South Africa.