Jazz at The Villa - Siya Makuzeni - Sydney Mavundla - DJ Charles Leonard - 28 July 2024

ABOUT

This is the third installment of Jazz at The Villa in 2024, and we bring you another magnificent jazz line up in the delicious and intimate setting of Villa Simonne Boutique Hotel in Houghton, Johannesburg. The event is Sponsored by the Tysys Capital Group.

With the experienced Jazz DJ Charles Leonard opening the afternoon with a torrid set of SA jazz, the day is set and the platform is ready to welcome one of the leading voices on the SA Jazz scene, trombonist and vocalist, educator, composer and band leader Siya Makuzeni to our stage. He joins us with a fantastic Quintet featuring Sisonke Xonti on saxophones, Dalisu Ndlazi on bass, Sphelelo Mazibuko on drums and Ntando Ngcapu on piano. Siya will present some new, recent and older works.

After another DJ set by Charles Leonard, we feature one of the most vibrant trumpeter and flugelhorn player on the SA scene, and a fantastic composer and band leader who just released his second and amazing album Dirge for our fathers, Sydney Mavundla. He will lead his quartet featuring Amaeshi Ikechi on bass , Afrika Mkhize on piano, and Sphelelo Mazibuko on drums. Sydney will present his latest and amazing new offering “Dirge for our Fathers”. Expect lots of amazing music and an afternoon filled with peaceful beauty.

DJ Charles Leonard will close the afternoon / evening with another set of great sounds from the vinyl turn tables.

This very special afternoon of SA Jazz is brought to you by Pegs Music Project and Artful Expressions by Siphiwe Mhlambi, in association with Villa Simonne Boutique Hotel. The Concerts are sponsored by the TYSYS CAPITAL GROUP

Program of the day

13h00 - Doors open

13h15 - DJ Charles Leonard 1st Set

14h00 - Siya Makuzeni Quintet Set

15h30 - DJ Charles Leonard 2nd Set

16h15 - Sydney Mavundla Quintet set

17h45 - DJ Charles Leonard 3rd Set

Bands Line Ups.

Trombon and vocals - Siya Makuzeni

Drums - Siphelelo Mazibuko

Bass -  Dalisu Ndlazi

Keys - Ntando Ngcapu

Tenor Sax - Sisonke Xonti

Renowned for her well known for her extensive vocal dexterity and experimental creativity, Siya Makuzeni is a distinct South African voice in the world of modern music. She draws on musical influences from traditional and modern jazz, Xhosa music, soul, electronic and experimental music, in her aspiration for symbiotic cross – genre (Cross-Over) expression.

As composer/ arranger / band leader, Siya amalgamates genre-bending into a tasteful journey that transcends pop/soul/RnB/jazz-fusion/rock sentiments and allows the listener to explore new soundscape offerings (live vocal loops, backtrack arrangements, sound & electronic manipulation) from South Africa’s musical landscape.

Her contributions include:

Nelson Mandela – The Lost Tapes (Audible Originals – 2022)

Uprising: HERSTORY – Ford Theatre (Los Angeles – 2019)

The Road (Mzansi Magic – 2015)

As a band leader, she has led prominent performances since 2016: was billed as the Opening Act for the “Jazz Epistles Reunion” at Emperor’s Palace, performed at Safaricom Jazz Festival (Kenya, 2016), the - Joy of Jazz (2016), Jazz Foundation International Big Band Festival (2021) Cape Town International Jazz Festival (2017) Arts Alive (2018) and Jazz In The Lights (2024).

Siya Makuzeni (Live) promises to be a whirlwind musical experience

“Makuzeni is the embodiment of pianist Thelonious Monk's observation that jazz is driven not by technique but by philosophy. Hers is a progressively open and generous musical ethos that acknowledges her musical roots, from a "huge leaning to the textures and songs" of her Eastern Cape home, through to jazz luminaries like bassist and composer Victor Ntoni and The Blue Notes' Johnny Dyani.” – NIREN TOLSI [Sunday Times Lifestyle - 06 December 2015]

“Two characteristics of classic jazz singing are central to her wider, wilder musical identity too. She can and does scat in classic style, as well as in harmonically more subversive formats. She gave us both on her re-imagining of Bheki Mseleku’s Through the Years, very much in the spirit of Abbey Lincoln, but absolutely not any kind of cover. Makuzeni also has near-perfect diction: a skill that is sometimes undervalued. But it matters when the notes are going sham-boom-shedazzle-ow-ow-ow, but the lyrics still have something to say and we need to hear them. However much Makuzeni fragments the phrases and growls, roars, shouts and bends the sounds, you can always catch the words.” – GWEN ANSELL [Sis Gwen Jazz Blog – May 29 2016]

Sydney Mavundla - trumpet and flugelhorn

Sphelelo Mazibuko - drums

Amaeshi Ikechi - bass

Afrika Mkhize - piano

Bio Sydney Mavundla

Food and drinks are available at The Villa throughout the day.

Parking on 2, 3rd Avenue, Corner West St, Houghton Estate