The ever-popular annual UKZN Jazz Jol has a stellar line-up for this year’s edition to be held at the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music (CJPM) on Saturday, 27 October at 7pm.
Celebrating its 30th year, the Jazz Jol features lecturers Mr Burton Naidoo, Mr Sibusiso Mashiloane and the much-loved UKZN Big Band.
Naidoo will lead the UKZN Big Band and will also perform his much-talked about compositional adventure ‘Our Song’. This work creates a backdrop for the iconic speeches of President Nelson Mandela and other famous leaders of South African politics. Written for solo piano and track, the audience can expect speeches from the Rivonia Trial, Praise singing from Sthembile Mlangeni and Zolani Mkiva at the inauguration of Mandela, as well as FW De Klerk’s 1990 parliamentary speech announcing that Nelson Mandela was to be freed.
Mashiloane will perform a selection of his own compositions inspired by the South African music landscape. Speaking of his love for SA music and composers he says, ‘The musicians and composers that inspire me, are the ones that take pride in their identity and are not only driven by their musical skills, but also by their relevance and accuracy. It is so important that we embrace the different characters that our society breeds. If we do not let our identity influence our music, the significance of being part of a society is lost.’
He will perform with Menzi Cele and Zoe The Seed on vocals, Boyi Mokhatla on drums and Qhubekani Mthethwa on bass guitar.
The UKZN Big Band will perform some old Big Band favourites including Have you Met Miss Jones, Take the ‘A’ Train, and I’ve got You Under My Skin.
New arrangements from John Kordalewski, as well as arrangements by students Micale Leon, Phuti Mofakeng, Kgethi Nkotsi and Sinalo Zulu will be featured. To get everyone into a festive spirit, the Big Band will perform two Christmas Carols.
As a warm-up and precursor to the annual Jazz Jol, the UKZN Jazz Ensemble will perform on 17 and 24 October at the CJPM. Proceeds from these two concerts, which start at 6pm, as well as those from the Jazz Jol will go to the Ronnie Madonsela Scholarship. The fund assists disadvantaged jazz students at UKZN with financial aid or support.
As part of the 30th anniversary celebrations of this Scholarship, CJPM is also proud to announce a legacy project of the release of a double CD of the Piano Passions concert held at Howard College Theatre earlier this year. The solo piano concert featured Professor Darius Brubeck and his former students and illustrious UKZN alumni, Melvin Peters, Nishlyn Ramanna, Burton Naidoo, Debbie Mari, Andile Yenana and Neil Gonsalves. To purchase the double CD, contact Thuli Zama on 031 260 3385 or zamat1@ukzn.ac.za .
Tickets for the Jazz Ensemble concerts on 17 and 24 October are R80 for general admission, R50 for pensioners and R25 for students and for the Jazz Jol are R130 for general admission, R90 for pensioners, R70 for students and can be purchased at the door.
