Friday 2 December 2011

MEMORIES and SPECIAL MOMENTS

The feeling we get after these shows makes us want to do them all over again. 
All the sleepless nights and struggles are worth it. Thank you for your support!






Monday 17 October 2011

SEE YOU AT WOMEX - The World Music Expo!

We would like to meet with music promoters, festival organisers and arts consultants. We've just completed a range of gigs with some of the artists featured on our blog and our most recent consulting project was completed for the Department of Arts and Culture, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Proman and the National Treasury.



IPR Indaba: Copyright, Artists and the Digital Environment

You are cordially invited to the Free Market Foundation's 5th annual Intellectual Property Rights Indaba, Innovation for accelerated growth, at the FNB Conference & Learning Centre, Grayston Drive, Sandton.

Monday 26 September 2011

AN INTIMATE PERFORMANCE WITH KARABO AND HLULANI @ CATZ PYJAMAS

HLULANI & KARABO

DATE: 1 OCTOBER 2011
FEE: ENTRANCE FREE
TIME: 19:00 for 19:30
RSVP: To Cleopatra melville@catzpyjamas.co.za and cc Kgomotso info@iksconsulting.co.za or call +2711 726 8596

NB. BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL. IF YOU ARE MORE THAN 30 MINUTES LATE, YOUR SEAT WILL BE GIVEN TO SOMEONE ELSE.

Afro Jazz, R&B and Soul



Tuesday 13 September 2011

CHRISTOPHER VALE


Christopher Vale's velvet voice is perfect as a final touch to your formal event. He sings opera with so much expression that even when you don't understand the language he is singing in, you feel his music so deeply you immediately connect with it! His qualifications include:

  • Pretorium Trust Postgraduate Winner, 2011
  • Performance at Brooklyn Theatre: Dis Opera; Gala Opening
  • Licentiate in Performance - UNISA, 2010
  • Gertrude Buchanan Memorial Prize at UNISA Overseas Scholarship Competition, 2010
  • Mimi Coertse Scholarship recipient, 2010
  • Finalist, ATKV Muzik/Muziqanto Competition 2010
  • An die Musik concert for UNISA, 2010
  • Mimi Coertse Shcolarship recipient, 2010
  • Pretorium Trust Bursary Winner, 2010
  • Grade 8 Practical Diploma - UNISA, 2009
  • SAMRO/Doen van der Walt Singing Scholarship, Du Toit van Tonder Scholarship and Mimi Coertse Prize for best interpretation of an Afrikaans Art Song at UNISA Bursary Competition, 2009
  • Pretorium Trust Bursary winner, 2009
  • Singing teacher (privately), 2008 - present


Tuesday 6 September 2011

KHANYI MAGUBANE


Khanyi Magubane is a jovial, energetic broadcaster, writer, poet, journalist, event MC and social commentator.

At just 31, in her fourth year of hosting a successful gospel and spirituality show on SAfm, “Living Sounds”, whose purpose she says, is to “heal, inspire and motivate”, Khanyi’s approach to the entertainment industry is fabulously dynamic.

She is also an experienced MC and panel facilitator, having MC’d at events including the Cape Town international Jazz festival, the intra-Africa Business Network, University of Kwa-Zulu Natal Publishing book launch at Xarra books, Newtown-Johannesburg and Alliance Francaise. 

Khanyi has also performed internationally. She was part of the South African delegation invited to perform at the 12th Havana international poetry Festival in Cuba, along side poet Laureate Professor Keorapetse “Willie” Kgositsile, Cape writer James Matthews and poets Lebo Mashile as well as Phillipa Yaa De Villiers. These are just some of Magubane’s achievements as a charismatic personality.

She is also currently working on her first novel, and continues to freelance as a magazine features writer. 


Tuesday 17 May 2011

Yonela Mnana


“My studies in this genre’s history and the evolution of its arrangement have helped me to adopt an open approach.”


Many assimilate this blind genius with Stevie Wonder because of his singing, piano playing, composing, teaching and arranging skills. Yonela Mnana studied piano at Wits University where he obtained a B.mus degree.  

His ensembles feature his own compositions that encompass jazz, African traditional music and popular contemporary music (local and international). On most of these he has utilized his voice which he developed unassisted.

Among many artists he worked with since 2005 is Steve Kekana, world-renowned Zim Ngqawana, Jimmy Mngwandi, Andile Yenana, Thandiswa Mazwai and Siphokazi.


He has recently been chosen to accompany singers and choirs for the entire Tirisano Regional Competition that is nation wide. This is where he will display his remarkable understanding of classical music as he will learn and play all songs by ear and provide the music support to the singers at the competition. 


On 27 August 2011, Yonela performed a song with Frank McComb at the Joy of Jazz festival! The audience was wowed and want to hear more from Yonela!! Yonela is currently recording his first music album. Watch this space!!




Sunday 15 May 2011

Short Review: "Rewind" the Opera based on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission


After seeing the "Rewind" Opera (a representation of the Truth and Reconciliation recordings) yesterday, I couldn't help but remember Winnie the opera and compare the two South African stories. "Rewind" hit me hard. I cried a river over racist stories post 1994 that get swept under the carpet. Sibongile Khumalo gave a stunning performance. She made the lyrics alive. The melodies were so appropriate. Phillip Miller - Thank you for making new music accessible. You are a man of virtue!

Sibongile Khumalo, you mended my heart with "Thula sizwe. Ungabokhala Ujehova wakho uzokunqobela" - translation - (Wipe your tears, my nation. Don't cry. Your God will make you triumphant!) Every South African should see this Opera. Memory is so powerful!!!

Wednesday 11 May 2011

Wouter Kellerman

A true crossover artist, Wouter Kellerman demonstrates the African perspective of the arts in that he fuses dance, drama, music, visual arts, people and much more into one luring performance! hmmm...

The South African Music Award-winning flute wizard has performed at the 2010 FIFA World Cup Closing Ceremony apart from, over the last two years, performing all over the world in places like Berlin, Shanghai, New York, France, Sydney, South by Southwest (SXSW) music festival in Austin, in Texas.


Albums:  Colour (2008)/ Two Voices (2010)
PS. Click on his name to see him in action!!





Hlulani Hlangwani

Hlulani Hlangwane is a South African born Jazz singer with a uniquely distinctive voice. Her tone places her snuggly in the field of jazz and soul divas. 2008 was a milestone in Hlulani’s career as a selected best vocalist of the year by the Standard Bank arts organization that placed her in The National Youth Jazz Band for a year.

Returning from her three month Vietnam tour in 2009, Hlulani has since settled in Johannesburg. With experience in working with RnB American singer Joe, The Spinners, Judith Sephuma, Jimmy Dludlu, Hugh Masekela, Herbie Tsoaeli, Ayanda Sikade, Lucas Senyatso, Mlungisi Gegana and Feya Faku to name a few. 

It's just a matter of time before she takes this industry by storm!!

Tlale Makhene



Tlale Makhene is a much sought after SAMA Award winner, teacher, session musician, music festival director and performer.
Performances: He has toured with Keiko Matsui (Japan) as well as performing in her new album called MOYO where he got to work with Derrick Nakamoto. He also performed with Pharaoh Sanders, Corrine Bailey (U.K), Angelique Kidjo (Benin) and Jamalia (U.K) during the 46664 concerts. Tlale was part of a performance at a World Economic Forum in an Ensemble led by Caiphus Semenya and directed by Quincy Jones. Other members of that ensemble were Arturo Sandoval, Bashiri Johnson, Branford Marsalis, Louis Nash and Herbie Hancock.
Directing and Producing: He directed Tihlabani Awards ceremony, Zone6 Games (LOC) and the Coca-Cola World Cup Trophy for the awards in Swaziland. Working with artists such as McCoy Mrubata, Paul Hanmer, Simphiwe Dana, Flo D and Shannon Modday, he also produced and directed the jazz festival for the SwaziExpo.





He just performed with Yusef Lateef and Rufus Reid at the Gold Reef City Lyric Theatre. He is reharsing with Paul Simon for the celebration of 25 years of 

Album: Ascension of the Enlightened 
(2004)
click on Tlale's name to listen to his beautiful music 

link to live performance: