(Nyimbo ya Bantu)
The Centre for Jazz
and Popular Music at the University of KwaZulu-Natal presents its 28th Jazz Jol
tomorrow (November 30) at 18h00.
The annual Jazz
Jol, has become something of a legendary year-end celebration for music-lovers,
with proceeds going to the Ronnie Madonsela Scholarship that assists
disadvantaged jazz students at UKZN with financial aid or support. This year
the Jol features student ensemble Nyimbo ya Bantu, the recently launched UKZN
Big Band, the UKZN Trebles - a vocal group featuring UKZN Voice students, as
well as a selection of students that have featured in the Centre’s showcases
throughout the year.
Nyimbo ya Bantu,
which means “people's song” in a blend of kiSwahili and isiZulu, is comprised
of junior and senior jazz studies students from UKZN’s music discipline within
the School of the Arts: Tseleng Mokhatla on flute, Ildo Nandja on
double/electric bass and vocals, Nic Pitman on guitar, Zibusiso Makhathini on
piano and Riley Giandhari on drums.
The ensemble’s
repertoire mixes original compositions influenced by classic jazz, afro jazz
and world music, with South African jazz standards and music by local artists
from KwaZulu-Natal. At the Jazz Jol they will perform, amongst other pieces, Rachel composed by Pitman; Metamorphosis composed and arranged by
Nandja; End Times by Giandhari and Spirit of the Messenger by Makhathini.
Audiences can also expect a cover composed by renowned South African pianist
Bheki Mseleku. Nyimbo ya Bantu has performed at the Grahamstown Standard Bank
Youth Jazz Festival, the Oslo Jazz Festival in Norway as part of the Nordic
showcase and performs regularly at the Chairman in Durban.
Directed by Burton
Naidoo, the UKZN Big Band which was launched in June this year features a
line-up of top talent - pianists Abigail Giddings and Jaedon Daniel, bassist
Llewelyn Chetty, drummer Riley Giandhari, trumpeters, Siyanda Zulu, Sanele
Qwabe, Phuti Mofokeng, and Talente Mhlongo, guitarist Kaylin Naidoo, Snothile
Mkhize on clarinet, alto saxophonists Nwabisa Kheswa, Simone van Niekerk, Tim
Lewis and Phumlani Mtiti, Tenor saxophonist Bonginkosi Mkhize and Trombonists
Thembinkosi Khumalo, Mokgethisi Nkotsi, Tseleng Makhatla (flute) with special
guests Prof Salim Washington (tenor saxophone), Prof Mike Rossi from South
African College of Music, University of Cape Town and George Mari (trumpet).
The Band will play
a selection of favourites from their repertoire including standards such as Moten Swing by Buster Morten and two
songs by living legend Ndikho Xaba arranged by John Kordalewski - Mad Mad and
Nomusa.
“We are particularly
excited by the band’s selection of music,” says Neil Gonsalves, Director for
the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music, “John Kordalewski and Bab’ Ndikho Xaba,
the great KZN pianist and struggle stalwart, met in the late 1970’s while Bab’
Ndikho was living in USA Washington DC. It was here that he mentored John. In
2014, John came to see Bab’ Ndikho and spending time at the keyboard together
in his house led to the idea of writing arrangements of Baba’s music to
preserve his cultural legacy. John wanted to create a unique combination of the
“big band” sounds and colours with South African fundamentals that are in
Xaba’s compositions. They eventually recorded a few ideas, which John uses as a
reference for his arrangements. John worked with the UKZN Big band in
September, and is excited to present his arrangements of these works with these
talented musicians.”
The Ronnie
Madonsela Scholarship also provides bursaries for deserving students and also
funds students’ travel visas for overseas trips, as well as national travel and
accommodation to the National Youth Jazz Festival in Grahamstown and other
educational festivals, workshops and conferences.
The Jazz Jol takes
place on November 30 at 18h00 at the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music at the
University of KwaZulu-Natal, Level 2, Shepstone Building at UKZN Howard College
Campus. Tickets R120 (R80 pensioners and R60 students) at the door. For more
details contact Thuli Zama on 031 260 3385 or email Zamat1@ukzn.ac.za
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