Arts writer
ONE of the hardest working young jazzman in Joburg today, Mandla Mlangeni, is taking his Amandla Freedom Ensemble on a mini tour around Cape Town. This tour is supported by Concerts SA: a joint SA/Norwegian project housed under the auspices of the Stakeholder Hub within The SAMRO Foundation.
As part of their mother city leg the ensemble will play at Straight No Chaser and The Crypt in the city and Jazz in The Native Yard series in Gugulethu.
The young trumpeter and composer will lead the energetic quintet in a series of performances that will include some known tunes and new compositions. The repertoire is designed to showcase music from his forthcoming debut album, Bhekisizwe; due for release later this year.
The tour will feature guest appearances by some of the best jazz musicians that Cape Town has to offer. The 29-year old Mlangeni has been lauded for the socio-political savvy he brings to his music, and composes music bent on confronting the charged and often contentious spirit of the times: the land, the people and the passion – these variables in public discourse inform his wide musical vision.
Mlangeni is a graduate of music composition from the University of Cape Town.
He balances this academic training with the depth of lessons gleaned playing with elder jazzmen such as Hugh Masekela, Khaya Mahlangu and Louis Moholo.
Mlangeni has toured internationally and locally with his Amandla Freedom Ensemble and other outfits of young lions he leads include The Tune Recreation Committee (TRC) and Native Groove Collective (NGC). He is part of a new generation of South African jazz musicians shaping a new path for the music and its future.
The Amandla Freedom Ensemble Bhekisizwe Tour was conceived to provide a platform to expose new works for jazz lovers.
The ensemble consists of Mlangeni on trumpet, Oscar Rachabane tenor saxophone, Ariel Zamonsky contra bass, Gontse Makhene on percussion and Clement Benny on drums.
Hear them at Straight No Chaser on November5 and 6 at 8pm (R80 to R140), The Crypt on November 7 at 8pm ( R80) and at the Jazz in The Native Yard series on November 8 at 2.30pm (R80).
l www.concertssa.co.za