Lister Boleseng goes on tour

NELSON DIRENG
Correspondent | Wednesday December 21, 2011 00:00

 

Of the seven shows, three would feature legendary blind Mbaqanga singer, Steve Kekana from South Africa, while local female jazz artist Punah Gabasiane accompanies Boleseng in all the shows.

The first show, which features only Boleseng and Gabasiane kicks off at Mmadinare this coming Friday. The two will celebrate the re-launch of the Maphatshwa jazz Garden in Serowe the day after. Boleseng gets back to his roots on Christmas day by performing at Thato's Club in Palapye, a place he grew up. Gabasiane and another local jazz muso who hails from Palapye, Magic Diau, will join him.

Kekana joins Boleseng and Gabasiane for the first time on December 30, at the Velvet Night Club in Sebina. They will perform on New Years Eve in Mogoditshane at the Millenium Jazz Caf. The trio wrap up on New Years at the Jazz Brew in Mochudi.

Boleseng told Showbiz that he was very excited about the tour mainly because he would get to perform alongside Kekana for the first time. He said that he used to listen to Kekana as a young boy but only got to see him perform for the first time in palapye in the late 1970's.

Kekana and Boleseng would be performing live and a locally dominated band; Medupe would be dishing out the beats.

Boleseng said that he would also like to use the show to introduce his upcoming album titled 'Ke Swa Hela', which is scheduled for release mid next year. He said he would like to engage Kekana in the albums production. I believe I can learn a lot from Kekana because he has been in the music industry for a long time and has been able to capture the hearts of many with his music,' he said.

Boleseng said he would also like to get public opinion about the album before before releasing it. He said he would take criticism as it comes and fix whatever can be fixed. 'Music is not just about one person but about people that is why I have decided to get public opinion before releasing the album,' he said. Boleseng added that by doing this, he believes he can produce an album that is as good or better than his previous one.

Boleseng said he will be targeting villages, which he believes is a market that has always been hungry for a jazz performance. 'I would like to make this show annual so as to reach more parts of the country,' he said. Music promoter, Zenzele Hirschfield said the show would help in the spreading of jazz across the country. She said most jazz musicians are stuck in Gaborone because of the perception that there is no market for jazz in rural areas. However, she said jazz cuts across bridges and can be listened to people regardless of their social status.