LUKHETHO SIYANQOBA MTHETHWA AT CENTRE FOR JAZZ

(Lukhetho Siyanqoba Mthethwa)

The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music at UKZN will present pianist Lukhetho Siyanqoba Mthethwa on March 6, 2019.

This highly driven pianist and musician hails from KwaZulu-Natal. Born in a Christian background, he picked up music at a very tender age of five from his father. He grew up playing at church until he went to study professionally at the University of KZN.

He has worked and produced for great names like Joyous Celebration, Ntokozo Mbambo, Judith Sephuma, Khaya Mthethwa, Brenda Mtambo, Mahalia Buchanan, Mkhululi Bhebhe (Zim), Sbusiso Mthembu and more. He has played for greats like Kirk Franklin, Vashawn Mitchell, Donnie McClurkin. Now branching out as an artist in his own right, he is now recording a selection of his own compositions with jazz, African and gospel elements.

Join Lukhetho Mthethwa alongside Qhubekani Mthethwa-bass, Sbu Zondi-drums, Lungelo Ngcobo-keys/organs, and Lwazi Ydrestal-vocals at The Centre for Jazz and Popular music (CJPM), Level 2, Shepstone Building at UKZN Howard College Campus on March 6 at 18h00. Doors open at 17h30.

General admission R80 for (R50 pensioners, R25 students). Contact Thuli on 031 260 3385 or email Zamat1@ukzn.ac.za for more details.

LIHLE DUNJANA & MASH MASHILOANE

(Lihle Dunjana)

In association with Distell, iSupport Music Business and Artizen Restaurant and Lounge present Distell Wine tasting on March 3, 2019, at 16h00 at Artizen in KwaMashu. The entrance fee is R80 and will include wine tasting and canapés. On stage will be Cape Town based pianist Lihle Dunjana, local pianist Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane and Tribute to Sophiatown.

Cape Town based pianist Dunjana will perform with her quartet at Artizen presenting her project titled iGugu. This performance along with performances at Luthuli Museum (Groutville) as well as Seaman’s Corner in Hammarsdale are supported by Concerts SA. It is a mix of African American hardbound style, South African jazz and soul music. It is a unique sound that tells of her experiences and influences of past musicians.

(Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane. Pic by Simanga Zondo)

Pianist and composer Mashiloane is a prolific and award-winning artist whose academic credentials speak volume for the kind of passion and discipline he has for music. He has a Masters in Jazz Performance and graduated Cum Laude from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Mash is an integral performer and has been well received by audiences while touring the country and beyond to promote his albums: Amanz’ Olwandle (2016), Rotha – A Tribute to Mama (2017) and Closer to Home (2018).

Not only is Mash a great artist in this very vibrant time in South African jazz music, he is also a teacher with a focused goal to help grow talent from a firm foundation of African Roots. He lectures at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and Durban Music School. His focus is to teach and organize live music performances with his students focusing on South African composers. Mashiloane is currently doing his PHD focusing on South African composers.

(Tribute to Sophiatown. Pic by Simanga Zondo)

Known for their Makeba Tribute show vocalist Thulile Zama and her band members found it fitting to also present a Tribute to Sophiatown. The band consists of Nick Pitman on guitar, David Smith on keys, Rebekah Doty on drums and Sbusiso Mkhonza on bass guitar. They have chosen a repertoire of 20 songs of Sophiatown’s finest music. Despite violence and poverty, the area in Johannesburg was the epicentre of jazz in the 40’s and 50’s. Expect to hear the distinctive sound you all know, including the most joyful songs, but also emotional songs, while giving a music sketch of this rich history in the country.

Concerts SA is a joint South African/Norwegian live music development project housed within the SAMRO Foundation. Concerts SA receives financial, administrative and technical support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, SAMRO, the SAMRO Foundation and Concerts Norway. For more information visit http://concertssa.co.za, follow @ConcertsSA on Twitter at http://twitter.com/ConcertsSA or like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ConcertsSA.

The Distell Wine Tasting event will take place on March 3, 2019, at 16h00 in the Artizen Restaurant & Lounge – KwaMashu. Entrance R80 incl. free canapés and wine

Lihle Dunjana will also perform on:

March 1 at 18h00 at the Luthuli Museum in Groutville. Entrance R30

March 2 at 19h00 at Seaman’s Corner in Hammarsdale. Entrance R40

UNDER MILK WOOD FOR ST CLEMENTS

The next Mondays At Six programme at St Clements will take place on March 4, 2019, at 18h00.

The programme will feature Under Milk Wood, a play for voices by Dylan Thomas performed by Nick Kightley, Joe Martin, Jane Ross, Barbara Siedle, and Pieter Scholtz

This is how the play opens:

To begin at the beginning:

It is spring, moonless  night in the small town, starless and bible-black, the cobblestreets silent and the hunched, courters’-and-rabbits’ wood limping invisible down to the sloeblack, slow, black, crowblack, fishingboatbobbing sea.

St Clements is situated at 191 Musgrave Road. Mondays @ Six run between 18h00 and 19h00. Table bookings are essential on 031 202 2511. There is no cover charge but there is a donations box to support presenters.

ARTS COORDINATOR VACANCY AT THE PLAYHOUSE

Deadline: March 7, 2019

The Playhouse Company, situated in Durban, is looking for a suitably qualified and experienced Arts Coordinator.

Reporting to the Arts Manager, the successful applicant, will be responsible for the following;

- Coordinating all activities (technical, marketing and publicity) involved in the staging of a full theatrical production

- Oversee the drawing up of budgets for each production and ensuring the adherence to the budgets

- Negotiating fees and contracting Artists timeously

- Ensuring that Artists are paid timeously;

- Reviewing and providing critical feedback on theatrical productions;

- Co-ordinating of all logistical, contractual and administrative issues related to the portfolio;

- Submitting of weekly and monthly reports.

In addition to having a proven track record in the abovementioned functions, the successful applicant will have to be in possession of the following;

- A proven track record in budgeting, administration, planning & organising. A formal qualification will be preferable;

- A relevant qualification in Speech & Drama, Dance or Music, and/or be highly competent in Music Literacy gained through having experience of performing in professional theatrical productions

- A minimum of 3 to 5 years working experience in co-ordinating similar projects/ events in the Performing Arts;

- Advanced level of computer literacy (MS Office);

- Good negotiation skills

- Ability to work independently without constant supervision;

- Attention to detail is imperative.

If you are a hard worker with good Administration and Business Management Skills, good negotiation and interpersonal skills, coupled to being energetic with a commitment to maintaining a high standards of moral and ethical behaviour, please submit your application along with a detailed CV to the HR Assistant, Phumzile Mkhize, at hrassistant@playhousecompany.com by no later than March 7, 2019.

NB: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. In the event that you are not contacted within three weeks of submitting your application, assume that your application has been unsuccessful.

VIJAY STAR NITE FOR ICC

(Shankar Mahadevan)

In its constant endeavour to connect and entertain its Tamil audience across the globe, the premiere Tamil language TV channel, STAR Vijay, travels to Durban with several of its ever-popular stars including world-renowned star, Shankar Mahadevan in tow for Vijay Star Nite - a spectacular one-night-only showcase taking place tomorrow (March 1, 2019) at the Durban ICC.

STAR Vijay belongs to the STAR TV Network and is a popular Tamil general entertainment channel that is available in South Africa on DStv channel 455. Programming on the channel is varied, innovative and engaging and primarily to cater to the evolving tastes of the Tamil audience across the world.

As a preferred channel amongst the Tamil diaspora, STAR Vijay continues to raise the bar on content, packaging and promotion. And in light of this, the channel has created an event of this magnitude to connect with its audience and allow its viewers the unique opportunity to experience the artistes live.

The one-night spectacular will be televised worldwide as a weekend special but the live Durban audience will have the magic of experiencing the excitement live and witnessing the stars from some of the most popular shows on STAR Vijay on stage performing live alongside the memorable and award-winning artist, Shankar Mahadevan.

Celebrity couple, Senthil Ganesh – winner of Super Singer 6 – and his wife Rajalakshmi, together with the other finalists of the ever-favourite singing talent competition will give the audience a musical treat with renditions of evergreen hits to magical folk numbers, accompanied by a bevy of talented musicians.

(Aishwarya Anand)

Scintillating performances are guaranteed when popular celebrities from the hit reality show – Bigg Boss – Mahat, Aishwarya and Yaashika Anand (season 2 fame) also take to the stage, while the top-rated STAR Vijay soapie couples – from Raja Rani to Pagal Nilavu – dance to the rhythm of these popular beats.

To add to all the excitement and fun, the audience will be entertained throughout the evening by their all-time favourite anchor, Dhivya Dharshini, popularly known as DD, along with the witty host, Ma Ka Pa.

"At Star, we believe in creating memorable experiences for our audiences globally, whether it is through compelling storytelling, cutting-edge production values or by bringing our brand of entertainment to the viewers' doorstep in a live format. We consider South Africa to be a melting pot of cultures, and a country where the Star brand is much loved & admired. Last year, we brought Star Life HD, a new channel that brought Bollywood, soaps and reality shows in English, making Star a household name. This year, we are very proud to bring Vijay Star Nite to our Tamil audiences, which we hope the SA audience embraces warm heartedly.” – Gaurav Jandwani, Senior Vice-President & Business Head, UK/Europe & South Africa, Star Network.

Tickets from R300 to R2500 available from Computicket outlets and online.

Follow @BluBloodSA for more information on the upcoming event.