Jazz stalwart Feya Faku, an inspiration to many of South Africa’s young jazz musicians and who has had music composed as tribute to his name by the likes of the Netherlands based guitarist Vuma Levine, makes his first appearance at the Jazz in the Native Yards on Sunday 9 August from 3pm.
In this gig which is generously sponsored by Concerts SA, Faku will be accompanied by the versatile drummer Kesivan Naidoo, vibrant bassist Romy Brauteseth and the young jazz pianist Nduduzo Makhathini who won the 2015 Standard Bank Young Artists .
Born Fezile Faku in New Brighton in the Eastern Cape, he studied music at the University of Natal with Darius Bareback and graduated with a diploma in Jazz Studies. He has performed with some of South Africa’s music luminaries including Barney Rachabane, Abdullah Ibrahim , Thandie Classen, Duke Makasi, Pat Matshikiza, Basel Coetzee, Winston ‘Mankunku’ Ngozi And Bheki Mseleku.
In 2006 he spent time working with Paul van Kemenade Quintet in the Netherlands and as part of his residency programme in Switzerland he taught music and performed with the Swiss-South African Quintet which he co-led with the legendary Makhaya Ntshoko. Faku has also worked with great international musicians like Dave Young, Gustavo Begalli, Larry Ridley, Colin Vallon, Andy Sherrer, Eric van der Western, Brice Wassy, Malcom Braff, Samuel Blaser and Frederic Ljungkvist, to name a few. Some of his recordings include great titles such as Hommage (Challenge Records ), Tacit ( Msi/ Emi ) and The Colours They Bring (Feya Faku Music).
WHAT, WHEN & WHERE: Jazz in the Native Yards, Sunday 9 August from 15h00, kwa Sec, NY 138 no. 52, Gugulethu, Cape Town 7750 . See map
TRANSPORT: Book a shuttle to the gig: Unathi: 082 221 7711
INFO: Jazz in the Native Yards: Luvuyo Kakaza: 082 093 5369 luvuyo.pkakaza@gmail.com
WHO:
Drummer, Kesivan Naidoo started playing drums at the age of 11. In 1993 he made his debut at the Hogsback Arts Festival in the Eastern Cape. A native from East London in the Eastern Cape, Naidoo joined the Alan Webster Quintet in 1994. He later played for Hudson Park Jazz Band and the Hudson Concert Band which later went on tour in Germany, France and England. He joined the Hotep Galeta Trio and the following year enrolled at University of Cape Town where he graduated with a degree in music in 2002.
Born in a small town uMgungungdlovo near Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu Natal, Nduduzo Makhathini was brought up in a musical household – his mother was a pianist and his father a guitarist. He was exposed to a range of music including traditional Zulu and Indian music. He was in school choir and sung at church. It was only after high school that he started to study jazz piano. In 1996 His achievements include him being a youngest person to win the South African Music Rights Organisation Overseas Scholarship which made it possible for him to study in India.
Romy Brauteseth, a double bass player, is well known in the Cape Town music scene. She has performed with various artists including pianist and singer Nomfundo Xaluva, guitarist Reza Khota, trumpeter Marcus Wyatt and pianist Bokani Dyer to count a few. She was selected for the National Schools’ Jazz Band in 2005 and National Youth Jazz Band in 2010. She studied upright bass at UCT, and currently works in Cape Town with a variety of different groups, including the Dan Shout Quartet.
