UKZN Jazz lecturer and pianist Mr Sibusiso Mashiloane will, next month, release his third album titled Closer to Home.

Events to launch the album will be held in Durban, Johannesburg, Eastern Cape, Swaziland and Cape Town from September until November this year.

The album launch tour comes at a time in his career where he wants to zoom into his social and musical identity. Born in Mpumalanga province, where he grew up surrounded by Ndebele, Pedi and Swazi people and later moving to KwaZulu-Natal, he observed that each society breeds its own character. ‘If that character is not embraced the significance of being part of it, is lost’ says Mashiloane.

Closer To Home is a culmination of all the musical dialects and the characteristics of the communities he has stayed in, he explains.

During his planned launch tour, he will present Closer to Home live for audiences in Durban, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Swaziland, starting with the official launch on Saturday 1 September at The Chairman in Durban.

For this performance an impressive 11-piece band will be on stage, featuring established names such as Kunle Ayo on guitar, Tlale Makhene on percussions, Paki Peloeole on drums and Qhubekani Mthethwa on bass guitar. He will also feature a brass section with Mthunzi Mvubu on saxophone, Thabo Sikhakhane on trumpet and Thembinkosi Ngcobo on trombone. The pianist will be joined by three backing vocalists.

About the choice of musicians that contributed to this project, he says, ‘These musicians all take pride in their identity and are not only driven by their music’s skill impressions but also by relevancy and accuracy.’

Event listing:

Official launch

• Saturday 1 September
• The Chairman, Durban
• 146 Mahatma Ghandi Road
• R150
• Bookings: 079 753 6313 or info@thechairmanlive.com

Johannesburg Launch

• Friday 8 September
• Niki’s Jazz Restaurant
• 138 Bree Street
• Newtown Precinct (opp Market Theatre)
• Johannesburg
• R100
• Bookings: 082 – 448 6376 or mwnikza@iafrica.com

Other launch dates:

• Swaziland Launch: 28 September
• Eastern Cape Launch: 10 October at Rhodes University
• Cape Town Launch: 16 November at The Muizenberg Jazz Festival