Jazzo Sisa Sopazi is coming home. For the first time in his music career the national jazz artist will host shows in Queenstown, Ginsberg and East London.
The South African Music Awards (Sama)-nominated, Queenstown-born musician will be joined by musicians Nduduzo Makhathini, Sakhile Simani, Nhlanhla Mahlangu and Nhlanhla Radebe.
They, and their instruments, are poised to make their Amagoduka show a success.
Sopazi said they decided to call it Amagoduka based on a homecoming theme for a group of Eastern Cape musicians who left home to play in Johannesburg.
“We have all come home now and this is the first time I will be performing on home soil,” he said.
The first show will take place on Friday in Queenstown.
On Saturday they perform at Legends Showcase in Berea, East London, and on Sunday they offer a free show at the Steve Biko Centre in Ginsberg.
Organiser Mzi van der Mtola said it was one of many jazz events the Legends Showcase would host this year.
“This is my way of creating a platform for our jazz artists to showcase their talents. We will have a mixture of local and international artists coming here every month,” he said.
Sopazi, who returned to the province last year to work for the Eastern Cape Audio Visual Centre Records as a marketing manager, said he felt it was time to focus a little more on his own music.
“I came back home to work for a record label in a province that promotes artists who often feel they are being ignored. It would have been unfair to our artists if I had put myself first, but we have done a lot and it’s time I also played some of my music,” Sopazi said.
His debut album, Images and Figures, was nominated last year for a best jazz album Sama.
Although he did not win, it felt good to be heard as an artist and for his music to get recognition, he said.
“I am glad people are noticing the music. There are a lot of messages we carry in every song on the album,” he said.
They will perform pieces from Images and Figures this weekend.
“The album is a celebration of the sounds and images created by those who have gone before us, the likes of Bheki Mseleku, Feya Faku, Herbie Tsoaeli and Ezra Ngcukana. I could not do an album without paying tribute to these legends,” he said.
Sopazi will work on a second album later in the year.
“As an artist you must always have new material.”
lCatch the Amagoduka music show tomorrow at Cafe Beaulla in Queenstown for R70 a ticket.
On Saturday they will be performing at Legends Showcase.
Tickets cost R100 and are available at Lee Gold Music. On Sunday there is a free show at the Steve Biko Centre in Ginsberg. — poliswap@dispatch.co.za
Jazz star plays at home
The South African Music Awards (Sama)-nominated, Queenstown-born musician will be joined by musicians Nduduzo Makhathini, Sakhile Simani, Nhlanhla Mahlangu and Nhlanhla Radebe.
They, and their instruments, are poised to make their Amagoduka show a success.
Sopazi said they decided to call it Amagoduka based on a homecoming theme for a group of Eastern Cape musicians who left home to play in Johannesburg.
“We have all come home now and this is the first time I will be performing on home soil,” he said.
The first show will take place on Friday in Queenstown.
On Saturday they perform at Legends Showcase in Berea, East London, and on Sunday they offer a free show at the Steve Biko Centre in Ginsberg.
Organiser Mzi van der Mtola said it was one of many jazz events the Legends Showcase would host this year.
“This is my way of creating a platform for our jazz artists to showcase their talents. We will have a mixture of local and international artists coming here every month,” he said.
Sopazi, who returned to the province last year to work for the Eastern Cape Audio Visual Centre Records as a marketing manager, said he felt it was time to focus a little more on his own music.
“I came back home to work for a record label in a province that promotes artists who often feel they are being ignored. It would have been unfair to our artists if I had put myself first, but we have done a lot and it’s time I also played some of my music,” Sopazi said.
His debut album, Images and Figures, was nominated last year for a best jazz album Sama.
Although he did not win, it felt good to be heard as an artist and for his music to get recognition, he said.
“I am glad people are noticing the music. There are a lot of messages we carry in every song on the album,” he said.
They will perform pieces from Images and Figures this weekend.
“The album is a celebration of the sounds and images created by those who have gone before us, the likes of Bheki Mseleku, Feya Faku, Herbie Tsoaeli and Ezra Ngcukana. I could not do an album without paying tribute to these legends,” he said.
Sopazi will work on a second album later in the year.
“As an artist you must always have new material.”
lCatch the Amagoduka music show tomorrow at Cafe Beaulla in Queenstown for R70 a ticket.
On Saturday they will be performing at Legends Showcase.
Tickets cost R100 and are available at Lee Gold Music. On Sunday there is a free show at the Steve Biko Centre in Ginsberg. — poliswap@dispatch.co.za
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