Jazz goes wild this weekend when the UKhozi FM-EKZN Wildlife Summer Tour sets up camp at Midmar Dam near Howick.
The first of a planned string of Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife arts festivals, this year's event will feature some of South Africa's top jazz musicians.
The festival takes place at the dam tomorrow from noon, and will feature Tshepo Tshola, Jeff Maluleke, Thandiswa Mazwai, Stompie Mavi, IVA Band, Oliver Mtukudzi, Bambata and Simphiwe Dana.
Ever since she burst into the public's consciousness as the lead vocalist and songwriter of award-winning group Bongo Maffin, Thandiswa Mazwai has been an indelible part of the South African cultural landscape. Her musical beginnings, however, were not quite as auspicious - her first attempt to get noticed occurred at the Shell Road To Fame talent show. In a move that must be puzzling the judges to this day, Thandiswa didn't even make it to the semi-finals round. She did, however, catch the eye of musician and producer Don Laka, who arranged to include her in a project he was working on - Bongo Maffin's first album.
After almost eight years with Bongo Maffin, Thandiswa began work on a solo project, the result of which was the excellent album Zabalaza.
Oliver Tuku Mtukudzi's career has spanned 25 years and including his latest hit album TSIVO (Revenge) released in October 2003, he has composed all of 47 original albums (nearly all of them best sellers). But it is his dedication to the live music scene in Zimbabwe - continually playing to enthusiastic audiences in even the remotest parts of the country - that has earned him the place in people's hearts that he holds today. In the past six years, his popularity has risen extensively in the SADC region and together with his band The Black Spirits, he regularly ventures into Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland and Malawi and more recently Zambia, Namibia and Mozambique.
Jeff Maluleke has had a busy time over the last few years - earning awards (include SAMA and Kora Awards), devoted fans, and impressive sales for albums like Juliana, Kilimanjaro and Vukati.
Maluleke started out as a backing vocalist for Dr Victor And The Rasta Rebels, and then went on to work with renowned producer and kwaito star, Arthur Mafokate on a project called Papa Jeff. The album went on to sell in excess of 30 000 units, earning Maluleke a gold disc as well as an artist contract with CCP Records.
In the mid-90s, Maluleke and his songwriting partner, Pat Dubazane, joined forces in a band called Hagonya and the group was personally selected by singer Jackson Browne to be his support act for his South Africa shows in 1996.
From there on, more and more people took notice of Maluleke's talent. In 1997, he was commissioned to write a song for World Environment Week and in the same year, Hagonya was nominated as a finalist for an FNB SAMA award in the category "Best Group" along with Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Qcumba Zoo, Stimela and Soweto String Quartet.
In March 1998, after the disbanding of Hagonya, Maluleke went into the studio to work as a solo artist with renowned producer Thapelo Khomo. Three months of hard work produced Dzovo, an album which presented a broad sonic palette.
Juliana, Maluleke's fourth recording, continued where Dzovo left off - and once again presented a brilliant soundscape, that the singer himself created, with Jeff acting for the first time as producer on the album.
Tickets are available at Computicket for R80 and R100 at the gate.
- Phinda Tours, official tour operator for the Midmar Dam Summer Tour Jazz Festival, are offering a Park 'n Ride Luxury Bus Tour to the festival tomorrow.
Buses leave for Howick at 12.30pm from outside the Durban City Hall and R160 will get you there and includes an entry ticket and a braai platter.
Book your seat by calling Phinda at 072 110 5714.