Three legends of Durban’s music fraternity
collaborate to celebrate a 30+ year friendship in music.
Demi Fernandez, Nibs van der Spuy and Neil Gonsalves first crossed paths in Durban’s music scene in the early 90’s. Demi had recently taken up a teaching position in the Technikon Natal Light Music programme and Nibs was one of his first students.
Neil was a student in the jazz programme at the University of Natal at the time and both he and Nibs count Demi’s dazzling virtuoso performance at a Guitars for Africa concert at the Playhouse as a lasting impression and inspiration.
A few years later, Neil would join Demi on the music faculty at the Tech and he would inherit the Music History module that Nibs previously taught. Nibs was heading out on the road at the time with his band, Landscape Prayers, and a few years later Nibs’ rhythm section of Logan Byrne and Bruce Baker would make their foray into jazz in Neil’s band, Tonk.
These interweaving and overlapping trajectories in their respective musical journeys continue to this day, and the three friends meet at least once a year, most often over Nibs’ delicious chicken braai and Portuguese vino for a festive catchup. This year, he will delegate kitchen duty to the KZNSA Café as the musicians invite music lovers to the intimate space of the Park Gallery for a festive musical catchup.
Expect to hear music from their respective catalogues, including music from Nibs’ new release, Maiden of the River, Demi and Neil’s Latinfluence duo record, Neil’s Blessings and Blues trio record and reworked seasonal music for some much-needed cheer.
In addition, the trio also invites interested patrons to attend a lunch-time open rehearsal/soundcheck and Q&A session on the concert days to engage the artists and further inspire their own creative endeavours.
Demi Fernandez was born in Brazil of Spanish parents who moved to South Africa. After matriculating in Pretoria, he spent many years living, studying and performing in Flamenco Tablaos in Spain. Upon his return to South Africa, he performed extensively for all the Spanish dance companies in South Africa including the Danza Lorca Dance Company with whom he also toured Austria and Greece. He completed a Diploma in Jazz and Popular Music at Pretoria Technikon and an Honours degree in Music at UCT. He continues to perform with the Linda Vargas Dance Company and can be heard in duo with Neil Gonsalves on their 2013 release, Latinfluence.
Nibs van der Spuy is described one of the most extraordinary and exciting world acoustic guitarists to come out of South Africa. Raised in the fertile province of KwaZulu-Natal, Nibs immersed himself in his natural environment to formulate a truly consummate and original sound. Growing up with the Beatles and learning first-hand from traditional Zulu Maskandi guitarists, he quickly soaked up a rich eclectic tapestry of his surroundings and beyond. Nibs’ following grew and culminated in him being the supporting act for Crosby, Stills and Nash on their 1996 South African tour. He was soon signed to the SHEER (South African World Music) label where he released over 10 albums. Nibs released his first solo album in seven years, Maiden Of The River in May 2022. The new material was written along the Lisbon Coast during the global lockdowns and conveys a deep message of hope, deliverance and healing in a world off balance.
Composer/pianist Neil Gonsalves completed a Masters degree in Jazz Performance cum laude at the University of Natal in 1999. He recorded a debut CD with his band Tonk in 2000 and North Facing in 2006 which was recorded in Gothenburg, Sweden. He has worked with many of South Africa’s most well-known and respected jazz musicians as well as relatively long tenures with Busi Mhlongo and Johnny Clegg with whom he toured from 2000-2004. He is the Director of the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music at UKZN and released two recordings during lockdown, Blessings and Blues and a solo piano album called Concert for One.
Performances are at 18h00 on December 22 and 23, and tickets can be purchased online on the Quicket platform, or at the workshops which will run from 12h00 to 13h00 on the concert days. Seating is limited and pre-booking is advised. Tickets R150. CDs will be on sale.
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