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Friday, February 15, 2019

BLUES MEET JAZZ


(Thulile Zama & Pinkie Mtshali)

On Friday February 22, 2019, vocalists Thulile Zama and Pinkie Mtshali are bringing a special Blues Meets Jazz concert at The Jazzy Rainbow in Morningside. People will be treated to duets and solo performances and the concert aims to be an exploration of the sweet jazz sounds and sultry Blues lyrics.

This is the first of its kind – a new concept to be staged in Durban. Spearheaded by Pinkie Mtshali (Blues Singer) and Thulile Zama (Jazz singer) – both are versatile vocalists who are active around the music scenes in Durban and have travelled world stages performing in different concerts and events, They  will put a swing in the series of Blues meet Jazz concept, accompanied by a four piece band: David Smith (piano), Lee Ngidi (bass guitar), Rebekah Doty (drums) and Brandon Pick (lead guitar),also featuring an up and coming Blues singer-guitarist Eston Lloyd)

Their repertoire include songs like, St. Gabriel (Marcia Ball), Black Coffee (Lacy J. Dalton), The Right To Sing The Blues (Billie Holiday), Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (Ella Fitzgerald), Evil Girl (Aretha Franklin), They Call Me Big Mama (Big Mama Thornton), Woman, I put a Spell on You (Nina Simone), Rock Me Baby (Etta James), also include South African Blues songs like Lizzie (Hugh Masekela), and Ngenzeni (African Jazz Pioneers), just to mention a few.

As mentorship director for the Durban International Blues Festival,  Mtshali experienced a lot of confusion between the two genres of blues and jazz. Therefore, she approached jazz singer Thulile Zama to bring the genres together in one concert to highlight the similarities and differences. The concert aims to be an exploration of the sweet jazz sounds and sultry Blues lyrics.

They hope to take this concept to other venues around KZN and also featured local bands in those areas that play with the two genres of Blues and Jazz.

Zama holds a BA (Music) from UKZN and is the lead vocalist of successful all-female contemporary jazz band Heels Over Head and recently developed a Miriam Makeba Tribute. This versatile vocalist performs a wide repertoire that ranges from Jazz to Covers to Afro effortlessly. She is well known in the jazz circuit and a much-loved vocalist in Durban. Her talents have taken her to Hamburg and Berlin in Germany and New Orleans in the USA. She has loads of experience and plenty of passion for music and the performing arts. She has done performances for Bona Magazine, Weekend Live (SABC 2), SAB, Top Billing (SABC 3), HIVAN, Camel, Glenfiddich and countless events companies and institutions.

Umlazi born soul–songstress Mtshali holds an Opera Studies Diploma from DUT and is well known within the music circles as a Durban Diva - a singer with a flexible vocal range and a huge repertoire from African, Classics, Blues, Pop, Rock, Jazz Spiritual and Disco music. She sings with different bands, orchestras and cabaret shows with different musicians. She has toured South Africa, America, Europe and Germany with different shows and concerts as well as singing at high profiled corporate events for heads of state, including the late First South African black president Nelson Mandela and his successor ex. President Thabo Mbeki. Pinkie has received several accolades like FNB Vita award nomination for her supporting role in Abba Maniacs, Eisteddfod singing competition (3 awards), Mercury/Dr Gcina Mhlophe arts award, Department of Arts and Culture Art Excellence award and Silver Convocation Award from DUT.

Blues Meet Jazz takes place on February 22, 2019, at 19h00 at The Jazzy Rainbow. Tickets R100 (R80 students with a valid student card) available at the door.

The Jazzy Rainbow is situated at 93 Smiso Nkwanyana Road, (ex Goble Road), Morningside in Durban.