SA saxophonist Mazuze to rock Maitisong tomorrow

MONKAGEDI GAOTLHOBOGWE
Staff Writer | Wednesday October 13, 2010 00:00

A Master's degree holder in classical music Mazuze, who is billed to perform with Shanti Lo tomorrow night, is also holding a workshop for local jazz artists to share knowledge and improve skills.  Soars Katumbela of Street Horn was tasked to bring together local jazz artists for the workshop that would run from 3-5pm.

He is described as a multi-talented soprano, alto, tenor, saxophonist, and flute player in his 8-piece band, which has already been to The Netherlands early in the year thanks to the massive success of his debut album, Maganda.  The new album has already won the Mozambican-born jazz player SAMA award nomination and international music nomination in Norway last year.

Interestingly, the amazing album was co-produced and distributed by the man himself and is already on the Internet and available on Internet pay sites.

He also worked with Andrew Lilley in the production which also had the participation of big names in South African and Mozambican jazz circles like Alvin Dyers and Julius Sigauque (guitarists), Lucas Khumalo (bass), Kevin Gibson and Frank Paco (drummer), Mark Fransman, Camillo Lombard and Andrew Lilley (piano), John Hassan and Tony Paco (percussion), Graham Beyer (trombone), and Melanie Scholtz, Nomfundo Xaluva, Hlulani Hlongwane and Heinrich Frans (vocals).

Mazuze is a seasoned jazz player with a Master's degree in ethnomusicology from the University of Cape Town (2006).  He first graduated in jazz studies at the same university in 2004 after reading classical music at the National School of Music, where he graduated in 1996 as pianist and clarinetist.

The album, which will be unveiled to the Botswana jazz enthusiasts tomorrow night, was officially launched in January 2009 in Cape Town (Jazzathon) and in September 2009 in Oslo, Norway.

Last year the album was also nominated for an Award for World Music in Oslo, an opportunity that saw Mazuze taking part in the 'World Music Festival' as a resident artist of the festival.