Jazz singer and pianist Nomfundo Xaluva is the next attraction at the Jazz in the Native Yards session. She will be performing at Gugu S’thebe, in Langa, on Sunday October 22, from 4pm.
She will be joined on the stage by a unique band made of celebrated jazz musos in the Cape.
Mark Fransman will be on keyboard, Wesley Rustin on double bass, Lumanyano Mzi on drums and Mandisi Dyantyis on trumpet.
An ensemble of violins and brass, Masidlale, a Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra education project, will play a curtain-raiser.
Ms Xaluva is no ordinary musician. Her sultry voice and exquisite talent as a pianist is backed up by a Master’s degree in Jazz Studies (Voice and Dissertation) and her humble, joyful attitude to both life and her art. This talent and effortless demeanour as an artist is powerfully conveyed on her delightful album, Kusile.
Ms Xaluva’s CV reads like a list of achievements most artists would covet.
She has performed with legends such as Sibongile Khumalo in a tribute show to Miriam Makeba, who was coincidentally the subject of her Master’s-dissertation and she has graced the stage alongside international stars like Dianne Reeves.
A love for music has always been ingrained in her – even as a small child she showed an extreme aptitude for the piano and was always part of her school choir. After school, Ms Xaluva knew there was only one road for her to follow – she was determined to study jazz.
In 2003 she enrolled for a BMus Jazz degree at the University of Cape Town. A few years later, she emerged from her deeply focused studies with a Master’s degree in jazz and a finely tuned vocal instrument.
Her skill as a vocalist and pianist are showcased to immaculate effect on Kusile – and album that delights and surprises with its lyrical and emotional depth. The staggering beauty of the album is further cemented by her unfailing vocal technique and tender emotional execution of each and every song.
“I look forward to sharing the music on Kusile with South Africans everywhere. The music comes from my heart and I hope to bring a piece of it to every single listener,” Ms Xaluva explains.
Her sentiments are shared by the team at Universal Music South Africa. “Kusile is such a beautiful album – in fact, it is a work of art. We are extremely proud of this album and of the opportunity to work with a talented and accomplished musician such as Xaluva,” says Wandile Sikhosana of Universal Music South Africa.
With the standout vocal technique, lyrics and music on Kusile, coupled with Xaluva’s vivacious personality and beauty – South Africans should ready themselves for a life-changing musical experience.
Tickets are R100 at the door.
There is discount for students and pensioners.
