Event information
Slow Life and Jazz in the Native Yards present an evening with South African Jazz icon, Dr. Tete Mbambisa.
Dr. Mbambisa represents an important figure in the South African jazz scene during 1970s Apartheid, a period during which such forms of self-expression by the oppressed were being suppressed. Until recently, his achievements have been hidden from jazz history.
From his brother’s record collection, Mbambisa listened to Frank Sinatra, Louis Jordan and the Four Freshmen. In his teens, he formed a highly successful vocal group, the Four Yanks.
By 1969, the pianist was working with Winston Mankunku and playing, composing and arranging with tenor-player Duku Makasi’s band, the Soul Jazzmen, on the landmark album 'Inhlupeko'.
A hero and giant in the South African jazz landscape, Dr. Mbambisa lends his sound to a new generation of ears in this event, with the support of Babes Ndamase on drums, Esihle Avelela on tenor sax, Muneeb Hermans on trumpet, Steven Sokuyeka on trombone, and Alistair Gibbs on bass.
