TUTU PUOANE

Jazz Vocalist at the Centre for Jazz & Popular Music, UKZN, on October 6.

In 2001, SAMA Award winner Tutu Puoane finished her vocal studies at the music college of the University of Cape Town (UCT). She turned down a big contract with a major South African record company and decided instead to grab a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity with both hands. She accepted a most generous offer of Dutch pianist Jack van Poll - who was living and teaching in Cape Town at the time - to go and study in Europe in order to develop her unique talents to the fullest as a jazz vocalist and performer.

This brave decision shows already some special aspects of Puoane’s character strength, determination and an ability to dream beyond the obvious. Today, Miss Puoane has grown into a skilled and experienced singer and performer, having gained respect in Europe from musicians and audiences alike. She released two albums with her European band: song (2007) and quiet now (2009), both of which received critical acclaim. One of Europe’s best Big bands, the Brussels Jazz Orchestra, invited her to work with them, resulting in an album called Mama Africa, celebrating the late and great Miriam Makeba.

Tutu has performed extensively in South Africa with many great South African musicians. She toured New York in 2000 as the vocalist with the South African National Youth big band and in 2001, performed at the North Sea jazz festival Cape Town, leading an Afro-Latino band, Tucan Tucan. She received several awards from major South African jazz competitions. In 2000 she was won the Old Mutual Jazz Encounters for Cape region and in 2001 she received a merit award for young promising talent at the Daimler Chrysler South African jazz competition. In 2004 she was the recipient of the Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year Award for music.

In September of 2002, Tutu moved to Europe, spending a year and a half in The Netherlands to study and then relocating in 2004 to her current home in Antwerp, Belgium, where she’s working steadily on her career. She released her successful debut album song in 2007 and the follow-up came with quiet now in 2009, which won the SAMA Award for the 2010 Best Traditional Jazz Album.

Tutu Puoane’s performance at the Centre for Jazz & Popular Music, UKZN will include Ewout Pierreux (piano), Nicolas Thys (bass) and Lieven Venken (drums). It will take place on October 6 at 17h30 at the Centre for Jazz & Popular Music, UKZN. Tickets R25 (R10 students). More information on 031 260 3385 or email- luthulia1@ukzn.ac.za