(Ernest
Dawkins)
The Centre for Jazz and Popular music will
present Soweto Exchange, a Sonic Jazz Hip-Hop Experience (USA/SA) led by USA
saxophonist, Ernest Dawkins on February 6, 2019.
This hip collaboration of musicians from
Englewood, Chicago, will be accompanied by some of South Africa’s finest
musicians. Distinguished saxophonist and cultural stalwart Ernest Dawkins, and
a selection of colourful artists will be creating and performing original music
together, that promises to be genre defying, and familiarly jazzy all at once.
A live coming-together of beats bop and booming vibes; inspired by the beloved
Soweto.
This ensemble includes pianist Alexis
Lombre and drummer Jeremiah Collier both from Chicago and trumpeter Thabo
Sikhakhane from KZN.
This multi-generational cultural exchange
is made possible in partnership with Rashida Phillips and Old Town School of
Folk Music, who are orchestrating a second batch of activities and performances
later this year in Chicago, for this very arrangement of the Soweto Exchange.
Wits University School of the Arts are one of the partners of this dual
cultural exchange programme.
Ernest Dawkins - Saxophone - (Artistic
Director) is a distinguished educator and founder of non-profit organisation
"Live the Spirit". He is also one of the world’s premiere
saxophonists and composers. He is an entrepreneur with years of experience
working with new media technologies to produce and promote his work and that of
the jazz community online and in digital venues. This stalwart of Chicago
culture has well-established roots and relationships within the South African
jazz fraternity, and proudly cites the late Zim Ngqawana and Feya Faku as some
of his most cherished musical brothers.
Alexis Lombre (piano) is a young professional
jazz pianist who is making her way onto the jazz scene. She is currently
studying at the University of Michigan under the tutelage of Grammy-winning
Robert Hurst. Raised on Chicago’s South Side, she discovered early that the true
essence of music is not only about what you hear but, more importantly how
music makes you feel. She believes that her musical mission is to keep the
‘Soul’ in music alive.
Jeremiah Collier (drums) is a meticulous
jazz drummer hailing from Chicago, whose undeniable talents have been nurtured
by fellow Chicago native Ernest Dawkins. The adolescent Colliers' stand-out
gift saw him handpicked by the Thelonious Monk Institute as one of several
music students from public performing arts high schools, who would present Jazz
centred talks and perform in other cities as part of the institutes 2018.
Brother El (DJ) is a multidisciplinary
artist who uses music and visual arts to express ideas and connect people to a
higher plane of consciousness. His performances often display several of his
skills such as DJ'ing and his live PA Electronic sets. His signature style is a
complimentary mesh of Hip-Hop, Break Beat, Spoken word and Ambient House, to
list a few.
Artemis (EMCEE) is a Hip Hop's princess, is
proving to be heir to a throne many lyricists have claimed in hiphop culture.
Growing up in Chicago's South Shore community, she uses her street experience
and knowledge mixed with revolutionary fight to broadcast struggles in her
neighbourhood. Poetry was always her escape from the rest of the world but in
2011, Artemis then realized she had a gift of flowing her words melodically.
This compelled her to open up her creative thoughts to incorporate hip hop into
her life. Her punch lines and versatility contribute to her unique sound. Her influences
include Jay-Z, Lauryn Hill, Outkast, Michael Jackson and Phenom, to name a few.
Her style of music is often described by critics as being very lyrical.
Artemis's ultimate goal is to be considered as one of the greatest of all time.
Thabo Sikhakhane (trumpet) is a band leader
of the Thabo Sikhakhane sextet, this 20 year-old young instrumentalist and
alumni of the Durban Music school; has his ambitions set to be one of the best
South African trumpet players. With Afrima Jazz winner Sibusiso Mashiloane as
one of his music teachers, and Linda Sikhakhane as his well-established
saxophonist of an elder brother; Thabo's immediate influences, inherent talent
and mapped out ambitions; have him earmarked to indeed live up to his
aspirations of being one of South Africa's finest trumpeters. Joined by local
bassist
The concert takes place at The Centre for
Jazz and Popular music (CJPM), Level 2, Shepstone Building at UKZN Howard
College Campus on February 6, 2019, at 18h00. Doors open at 17h30. General
admission R80 (R50 pensioners. R25 students). Contact Thuli on 031 260 3385 or
email Zamat1@ukzn.ac.za for more details
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