(The “Side
by Side” CD Cover)
Grammy-nominee Sharon Katz and Nonhlanhla
Wanda are celebrating 25 years of worldwide touring and musical collaboration
by releasing a new CD, Side-By-Side. The official launch will be on February 25
at 15h30 as part of the Sunday Soul Sessions concert series at the Northwood
Crusaders Sports Club, 10 Ranleigh Crescent in Durban North, just off the
M4/North Coast Highway’s Broadway exit.
The new CD will be available for a special discount price of R100 at the
launch.
The international performers, who were the
original founders of The Peace Train project in the 1990’s, have come back home
to Durban to record Side-By-Side with
producer Malcolm Nhleko of Maltre Studios. The Afro-Jazz-Contemporary fusion
album features all original compositions by Nonhlanhla and Sharon and showcases
their distinctive voices and gorgeous harmonies complemented by the
instrumental virtuosity of Sharon on guitar; Qhubekani Mthethwa on bass;
Charles Boykie Mnomiya on drums; and Sanele Phakathi on piano and
synthesizer. Lungelo Ngcobe will join
the band for the CD launch.
Following the launch in Durban, they will
perform in Johannesburg, Soweto and Soshanguve before embarking on an American
tour in July. The duo contributes proceeds from their concerts and CD sales
toward social development projects in all these areas including supporting a
children’s home, bursaries for orphans, after-school cultural programmes, and
therapeutic music projects across the country.
Sharon and Nonhlanhla are also the subjects
of the multiple-award winning film, When
Voices Meet” It documents the role of The Peace Train in creating South
Africa’s first, 500-voice multiracial youth choir in KwaZulu-Natal in 1993; its
groundbreaking concert tour across the country in support of the first
democratic elections; The Peace Train’s first tour of America after President
Mandela was elected; and the long-term impact of the project as told by the
participants 20 years later. The film, which premiered at the Durban
International Film Festival, has gone on to win awards at more than 30 film
festivals around the world and been broadcast in over 50 countries. John Kani
and Abigail Kubeka also feature in the film.
In addition to their own CDs, the group was
recorded on the Carnival! album with Sting, Tina Turner, Elton John and
Madonna. They have also recorded with Dolly Rathebe and Abigail Kubeka and
featured Ladysmith Black Mambazo on The Peace Train’s original tour.
The Side-By-Side CD Launch takes place at
Soul Sunday Sessions, Northwood Crusaders Sports Club in Durban North on February
25 at 15h30
For more information and bookings:
www.SharonKatz.com or email: sidebysidecd@gmail.com
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