Well-known Durban drummer and project
organiser, Atlas Duma, writes:
“It is our great regret to mention that two
of Umkhumbane Jazz Ensemble music gurus have decided to retire as active musos
in the music industry. There is no doubt that UJE presents itself as a major
art and cultural icon that unfolds history and heritage of our city, Durban,
with focus to Umkhumbane, Cato Manor, Mayville, KwaMashu and other townships
that were developed as secondary dwelling areas during apartheid era.’
Although UJE music is mostly instrumental
but they succeed to share these stories during various media interviews and
articles are issued and the community get informed and inspired. UJE has an
album called Ezintabeni, which was
recorded at Music House KZN in association with KwaZulu-Natal Department of
Arts and Culture, as well as Ethekwini Municipality Department of Arts and
Living Cultures. That entails for the album being distributed to all Ethekwini
Municipality Libraries and created a recognition for the ensemble to be
featured in big music festivals, such as Durban Jazz Festival, Ugu Jazz
Festival, Umlazi Jazz Festival and some of corporate events.
Two of eleven members of the ensemble - Mr
Moses Sefatsa, 85 years old Tenorr Saxophonist and Adolph Kunene, 85 years old
vocalist - have decided to hang up their gloves in the music industry because
of age and unstable health conditions.
UJE asked Atlas Duma of Sagiya Foundation
to invite relevant stakeholders to put together a farewell concert to honour these
old musos. The concert will be presented as a fundraising concert that will
donate some revenue as a gift to these legends as a token of appreciation to
their families for a sacrifice they made up to this far.
Sagiya Foundation, Invotech Business
Incubator and UJE received positive response from three of the major arts
institutions and decided to present a 3-Legged Farewell Concert for the UJE
Music Legends. Nise Malange from BAT Centre, Neil Comfort from Rainbow
Restaurant and Jazz Centre and Linda Bukhosini from The Playhouse Company and
Ethekwini Municipality have committed to play vita role to honour these musos
by hosting 3-Legged Farewell Concert called
UJE Horn Hang up Concert (UJE-HHC). This project will also recognize and
honour both 77 years old Jerry Kunene and Sdumo Ngidi for their lifetime
commitment it the music industry.
Uniqueness of the UJE HHC Farewell Concert:
UJE will be launching their new sound that incorporates Afro House and Cool
Qgom. This is the new sound they created so as to attract youth and feature
young blood in their musical performances and recording. The sound of DJ
Youngstar spells out the concept with academic flavour put in by UJE Drummer
Atlas Duma as the producer of UJE New Electronic Sound. Single is called
“Uzongithola”
The concert will take place on Sunday March
31, 2019, from 17h00 to 20h00 at the Sipho Gumede Hall in the BAT Centre.
Tickets R100 at the door.
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