Considered the hardest working young jazzman in Joburg
today, Mandla Mlangeni is taking his Amandla Freedom Ensemble to new and
greener pastures in the form of a series of concerts through KwaZulu-Natal from
October 22 to 25.
This mini-circuit is supported by the Luthuli Museum and
Concerts SA, a joint South African/Norwegian project housed under the auspices
of the Stakeholder Hub within The SAMRO Foundation. It receives financial,
administrative and technical support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, SAMRO and Concerts Norway. As part of the circuit, the Amandla Freedom
Ensemble will perform at Sansikane Primary School in Cato Ridge and at the
Luthuli Museum in Groutville for learners from Northern KZN.
The young trumpeter and composer will lead the energetic
quintet in this series of performances that will include some known tunes and
new compositions. The repertoire is designed to showcase music from his
forthcoming debut album, Bhekisizwe,
due for release later this year.
The tour will feature guest appearances by some of the best
jazz musicians that KZN has to offer. The 29-year old Mlangeni has been lauded
for the socio-political savvy he brings to his music. He composes music bent on
confronting the charged and often contentious spirit of the times: the land,
the people and the passion these dynamics inspire in public discourse inform
his wide musical vision.
Mlangeni is a graduate of music composition from the
University of Cape Town. He balances this academic training with the depth of
lessons gleaned playing with elder jazz men and musicians like Hugh Masekela,
Khaya Mahlangu, Louis Moholo and Steve Dyer. Mlangeni has toured
internationally and locally with his Amandla Freedom Ensemble and other outfits
of young lions he leads, Tune Recreation Committee (TRC) and Native Groove
Collective (NGC). He is part of a new generation of South African jazz
musicians shaping a new path for the music and its future.
The Amandla Freedom Ensemble Bhekisizwe Tour is conceived to
provide a greater platform to expose new and interesting works for jazz lovers. Performances are as follows:
October 22 at 19h00: The Jazzy Rainbow, Durban, 93 Smiso
Nkwanyana (ex-Goble Road), Morningside. Tickets R100
October 23 at 18h00: Luthuli Museum, Groutville
October 24 at 18h00: Seaman’s Corner, Hammarsdale Unit 3. Tickets
R30
October 25 at 13h00: The Rainbow Restaurant, Pinetown. Tickets
R60
For more information contact Marlyn Ntsele at 031 711 1524
or marlyn@isupportdoyou.com
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