(Professor Salim Washington)
The
Centre for Jazz and Popular Music will presents The Sankofa Band, tomorrow
(April 26) at 18h00.
Drawing
its inspiration from the Sankofa bird, a Ghanaian symbol of the return of
diasporic Africans to the motherland, the Sankofa band is a true representation
of moving forward whilst looking back. With matured sounds honouring the
traditions of jazz and sounds of today that tell stories of modern day life,
this collective of South Africa’s great jazz musicians are led by Professor
Salim Washington.
For this
special ensemble, Professor Salim Washington brought together musicians whom he
feels share his sentiments about music and life. Now residing in South Africa
for the past three years, Salim has recorded his third album upon his return to
the motherland. For this band 2016 begun on a high note in January as they left
crowds in great admiration after their performances in Johannesburg at the
Afrikan Freedom Station, an Afrocentric multimedia gallery in Westdene and the
warm sophisticated bistro venue and jazz club, The Orbit. Recorded at the SABC
Studios, lovers of jazz music are patiently waiting for the release of the
spiritually moving music they experienced, enticing all those that were not
present to experience it live through the rave reviews the shows received. The
album is due for release before the year ends.
For this
project sitting on piano is jazz pianist, Nduduzo Makhathini with Ayanda Sikade
on drums, and Dalisu Ndlazi on bass line. The strong horn section is made up of
trumpeter Syanda Zulu, Leon Scharnick on alto and the multi reeds man himself
Professor Salim Washington on tenor saxophone, flute, bass clarinet and the
oboe. This great sextet on some selections will feature a four piece vocal
choir of students from UKZN which brings an amazing operatic sound to the sound
of jazz. The music performed by this ensemble consists of original compositions
by Professor Salim Washington.
Join The
Sankofa Band at The Centre for Jazz & Popular Music (CJPM), Level 2
Shepstone Building at UKZN Howard College Campus, Durban on April 26. Doors
open 17h30 and the music starts at 18h00 Tickets R70 (R45 pensioners, R20
students) will be available at the door.