Mccoy Mrubata: Homecoming Concert (Homecoming Centre, District Six)

ABOUT

Fresh from the San Francisco Jazz Festival where he performed as part of a Southern African Arts Alliance program celebrating the 30th anniversary of Freedom Day, South Africa’s first democratic elections in April, the mastersaxophonist and flutist brings his Lullaby for Khayoyo, a brand new album, home to celebrate his 65th birthday on 1 June at the Homecoming Centre (formerly known as The Fugard) at 8pm.

This concert in which the maestro features the American guitar wizard Gary Wittner and Cape Town’s finest musicians Sibusiso Matsimela on bass and drummer Tefo Mahola will be recorded live by Fine Music Radio Inc. for a later date broadcast.

This concert is presented by the Cape Town Music Academy - CTMA

Biography:

Born and raised in Cape Town’s historic Langa as a child McCoy Mrubata absorbed the soulful hymns of the Zion Church, the chants and rhythms of traditional healers and the South African swing of the Merry Macs, an early Cape Town jazz combo that rehearsed across from his home.

Leaving school after the bloody 1976 Soweto uprising, he threw himself into music, studying with Langa legends such as pianist Madoda Gxabeka, tenor saxophonist Winston Ngozi, trumpeter Fezekile “Blackie” Tempi and penny whistle master Robert Sithole.

Moving to Johannesburg in the late 1980s he started recording for Zomba Records, he came into his own as the leader of Brotherhood, a talent-packed band that won the Gilbey's Music for Africa prize in 1990. He gained international attention in 1992 when he toured the world with Hugh Masekela’s Lerapo and has collaborated with Brazilian greats Airto and Flora Purim. Several of his albums have won the South African Music Award for best traditional jazz release.

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