LATINFLUENCE

(Neil Gonsalves & Demi Fernandez)

The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music will present the dynamic duo Latinfluence - Demi Fernandez and Neil Gonsalves - in concert this evening (August 20) at 18h00.

Flamenco guitarist Demi Fernandez and jazz pianist Neil Gonsalves have been colleagues as music teachers, initially at Technikon Natal and subsequently and currently at the University of KwaZulu-Natal for 20 years. Their musical partnership is more recent and grows out of a mutual admiration of each other’s musicianship and the need to develop a creative outlet that would explore, at least initially, the orchestral potential of the guitar-piano duo format and the vast terrain of Latin music. Their debut CD recording, Latinfluence, is the first instalment of their duo.

Demi Fernandez was born in Brazil of Spanish parents who moved to South Africa. After matriculating in Pretoria, Demi spent many years living, studying and performing in Flamenco Tablaos in Spain. Upon his return to South Africa, he performed extensively for all the Spanish dance companies including the Danza Lorca Dance Company with whom he also toured Austria and Greece. He also completed a Diploma in Jazz and Popular Music at Technikon Pretoria. He went on to complete a BMus (Hons) cum laude at the University of Cape Town.

Composer/pianist, Neil Gonsalves completed his Masters degree in Jazz Performance cum laude at the University of Natal in 1999. He recorded a debut CD with his band Tonk in 2000 and North Facing in 2006 which was recorded in Gothenburg, Sweden. He has worked with many of South Africa’s most well-known and respected jazz musicians as well as relatively long tenures with Busi Mhlongo and Johnny Clegg with whom he toured from 2000-2004.

The concert takes place this evening (August 20) at 18h00 at the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music (CJPM) Level 2, Shepstone Building. UKZN Howard College Campus. Doors open at 17h30 and music starts at 18h00. Entry R40 (R20 pensioners and R15 students).

For more details contact Thuli on 031 260 3385 or email Zamat1@ukzn.ac.za