The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music will
present The Truth Junkies on March 11, 2020.
In a post truth world where a recent Time
Magazine cover chillingly asks “Is Truth Dead?” came The Truth Junkies. Fake
News, Fake qualifications, Deep fakes; and you realize that the only truth that
is left to us, is music. The crave truth, they crave music. They are The Truth
Junkies.
With their roots firmly in the eclectic
combination of South African traditional forms as well as American jazz, the
truth Junkies are exploring a sound that is truly reflective of our country’s
jazz. The melding of the sound of Umakhweyana boy with conventional instruments
and compositions is a very exciting journey. The concept of two guitars with
Umakhweyana or else three guitars is also another deviation from the tried and
tested.
With such strong improvisers in the
line-up, the music has to give that platform for those voices to shine. Marius
Botha studied playing fretless bass under Marc Duby and Joe Delew, spent eight
years as a “Utensil” in Syd Kitchen’s band called Syd Kitchen and The Utensils.
In 2016 Marius decided to move to guitar, creativity flowed, new compositions
emerged and the need for an outlet became paramount. He coproduced Madala
Kunene’s 1959, recollections of
Forceful removals (Back in Kitomena) co-wrote and produced Lu Dlamini in the
same year. The Truth Junkies were obvious choices by Marius himself to help him
realize the noises of our city, cries of our nation that has been haunting him
all his youth, calling for a rich and tasteful Durban mixed Masala From being a
leader of a 270-strong choir at Port Natal High School – Durban, “I knew music
brought me peace ever since”. After studying education at UKZN and through
UNISA Marius worked at Durban’s Coastal Music – 1985- 1991 where he got
inspired to build own guitars and assemble own sound system which is still in
good use today. The Guitar Doctor- Guitar building – design & repairs
business was born. Now he successfully runs The Headroom Studio, a favourite
recording and production facility in Durban.
Lu Dlamini has grown into one of South
Africa’s premier artists. Her previous release Ulimilami will in future be a reference work in UNISA’s new course
called African Composition, a recognition well deserved. Apart from the fact
that she has quietly become a unique voice as Umakhweyana player, she has also
honed an impressive guitar playing skill. Once again, her beautifully
unorthodox style is unique. Performing with the Truth Junkies has allowed Lu to
showcase these faces of Lu Dlamini with strong new material.
Nick Pitman is a guitarist, producer, and
music teacher with over 10 years of experience as a recognised musician within
the city’s vibrant performance scene. He has a sharp aptitude for blending and
bending genre conventions, as evident in his latest single Rollercoaster featuring Nosihe Zulu.
Riley Giandhari was born in Durban, South
Africa. He started playing drums at the age of three and was mainly inspired by
his father Pravin Giandhari who is also a professional drummer.
At the age of 15, Riley started playing the
drums at church and with a few gospel bands. Although he has considered degrees
in other fields of study, he has always been drawn back to music and therefore
enrolled to study Jazz at UKZN in 2013. Apart from studying music, he is
currently a session drummer who records and performs with various musicians and
artists. Riley has performed with artists such as Hugh Masekela, Neil
Gonsalves, Brian Simpson, Mike Del Ferro and Raphael Clarkson. He also teaches
drums at Kearsney College and gives private lessons in drums, keyboard, and
music theory.
Ntobeko Shandu from Inanda, north of Durban,
is a talented young musician whose accompaniment skills belies his age.
Popularly known as Ntobass his bass playing reminds of a young Sipho Gumede
with a rootsy melodic sense. He has played with the likes of Jazz Saxophonist
Mfana Mlambo, and is also a member of Lu Dlamini’s band. His session skill has graced
many recorded works.
Join the Truth Junkies at The Centre for
Jazz and Popular music (CJPM), Level 2, Shepstone Building at UKZN Howard
College Campus on March 11 2020 at 18h00 (doors open at 17h30). General
admission R90 (R60 pensioners, R30 students). Contact Thuli on 031 260 3385 or
email Zamat1@ukzn.ac.za for more details.
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