Spring Day Concert with Bheki Khoza at the Olympia

ABOUT

Bheki Koza cultural stalwart from Durban plays next Thursday at a Spring Day concert

He is a marvel to watch. He can play anything, Jazz, Afro, Classical. He is truly a legend of the instrument and with that hometown influence his music is passionate and smacks of South Africa .

His musical history goes back to 1991 when he received a Talent Award and scholarship to study music in America. He returned in 1995 from studying there with the great, now passed, Jackie McClean.

He has played with Kenny Barron, Hilton Ruiz, Kirk Lightsey, Cecil McBee, Virgil Jones, Charles Davis and Steve Davis. His African connections include backing vocalist FLoxy Bee from Nigeria and Thuli Dumakude, a singer from South Africa, of Mabatha Fame and prior to studying in America, Bheki played with the African Jazz Pioneers, Abie Cindi, Sipho Gumede, Winston Mankunku Ngozi, Rene McClean, Victor Ntoni, Mike Makhalemala, George Lee, and Berry Rachabane. He also backed South Africa’s famous songbirds, Sibongile Khumalo, Sophia Mgina, Dolly Rathebe, Abigail Kubheka, and Themi Mtshani. During this time Bheki also had his own band Thayima, which played jazz and African music directly addressing the social conditions of the late 1980’s. For this reason the band was never recorded.

Bheki's musical influences are many. His grandmother played Jewish harp and harmonica, and enriched him with traditions of Zulu music which he then found in Phuz Shukela, Kati Elimnyama and Ngane Ziyamfiva. He was also influenced by wedding, funeral and shebeen music. Other influences include Philip Thabane, Alan Kwela, Abdulah Ibrahim. American Influences-Wes Montogomery, Barney Kessel, Kenny Burrell, Joe Pass, George Benson and Charlie Parker.

Bheki is musical director for the South African film production of “Drum”, a fictional account of the raising of Sophiatown. His role as a music teacher has inspired and empowered a new generation of talented musicians

?He will be accompanied by Peter Ndlala on bass, Babes Ndamase drums, Lonwabo Diba Mafani  on keys