Jazz in the Native Yards is delighted to present , Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz 2019, and the Amandla Freedom Ensemble and trailblazing poet KoleMandla Mhlangenika Putuma in its project, the Oratorio of a Forgotten Youth on Sunday 19 May at 3pm at Guga S’thebe Cultural Centre in Langa.
The multi-disciplinary, genre bending and intergenerational collaborative endeavour is part of a two-month period of performances in Johannesburg and Cape Town, and Sunday’s performance, which includes the University of the Western Cape Choir (UWC), is the culmination.
This bold project creates new and interesting narratives juxta-posed with choral renditions on the struggles of South Africa’s past, while swinging through the perplexities of its present day and conducting the foundations of its future. The Ensemble’s focus is to collaborate with the strongest musical forces within the jazz and indigenous scene while also working with the UWC Choir and Koleka Putuma. This new endeavour seeks to create new ways of seeing ourselves and the world in which we live.
The project includes residencies in Stellenbosch and Cape Town and presents an opportunity to collaborate with other seemingly disjointed genres of arts imagine a cutting edge jazz ensemble in conjunction with the award-winning UWC Choir.
The Amandla Freedom Ensemble comprises Mandla Mlangeni (trumpet), Nhlanhla Mahlangu (alto sax), Gontse Makhene (percussion), Siya Makuzeni (trombone and vocals), Yonela Mnana (piano and vocals) and Ariel Zamonsky (bass).
WHEN: Sunday 19 May at 3pm.
WHERE: Guga S’thebe Cultural Centre, Washington St, Langa, Cape Town, 7455
