Jazz at The Villa - Vimbs Mavimbs - Linda Sikhakhane Quartet - DJ Charles Leonard

ABOUT

This is the fourth 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.

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, bassist, educator, composer, musical director and band leader Thembinkosi Mavimbela AKA Vimbs Mavimbs to our stage. He joins us with a fantastic Sextet featuring Keenan Ahrends on guitar, Ofentse Sebula on saxophones, Robin Fassie on trumpet, Lungile Kunene on drums, Teboho Kobedi on piano and Vimbs Mavimbs in bass. Mavimbs will present some new, recent and older works.

After another DJ set by Charles Leonard, we feature one of the most exciting and talented voice on the SA scene, and a fantastic composer and band leader who just released his first album on the Blue Note label, saxophonist Linda Sikhakhane. He will lead his quartet featuring Benjamin Jephta on bass , Sanele Phakathi on piano, and Sphelelo Mazibuko on drums. Special guest Paras Dlamini on vocals

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 Siphiwe Mhlambi, in association with Villa Simonne Boutique Hotel. MoAfrika Jazz Boutique will also be there with lots of Jazz CDs on offer.

Program of the day

13h00 - Doors open

13h15 - DJ Charles Leonard 1st Set

14h00 - Vimbs Mavimbs Set

15h30 - DJ Charles Leonard 2nd Set

16h15 - Linda Sikhakhane Quintet set

17h45 - DJ Charles Leonard 3rd Set

Bands Line Ups.

Bass - Vimbs Mavimbs

Drums - Lungile Kunene

Guitar -  Keenan Ahrends

Trumpet - Robin Fassie

Keys - Teboho Kobedi

Tenor Sax - Ofentse Sebula

Vimbs Mavimbs Write Up Jazz at The Villa

MAVIMBS IS CURRENTLY WORKING ON HIS DEBUT ALBUM WITH A WORING TITLE CALLED ‘LATE BLOOMER’. THE ALBUM MARKS THE “BECOMING” INTO ADULTHOOD OR TRANSITIONING INTO

INDEPENDENCY. A JAZZ PROJECT THAT MIRRORS THE EIGHTEEN YEAR JOURNEY FILLED WITH TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS. IT AIMS TO CELEBRATE LIFE AND THE RICH AFRICAN HERITAGE. THE PROJECT EMBODIES THE SPIRIT OF A MILLENNIAL SOUND BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE BOUNDARIES WITHIN THE JAZZ PRACTICE BUT AIMS TO BE INCLUSIVE OF TRADITIONAL APPROACH TO JAZZ. THE LATE BLOOMER IS A SONIC SELF EXPLORATION AND A PORTRAIT WITH REMNANT OF MAVIMBS MUSICAL UPBRING AND HIS MUSICAL JOURNEY CONCEIVEDIN HIS LATE ADOLESCENCE YEARS. THE PROJECT HONORS THE IDEOLOGY OF ‘LATE BECOMINGS’ MONUMENTALIZES THE HUMBLE BEGINNINGS AND THE TRANSITION PROCESS OF EMBARKING ON A NEW CHAPTER. IT IS INSPIRED BY THE BUTTERFLY METAPHOR, SYMBOLIZES HOPE AND TRANSFORMATION. THE ALBUM IS AN ODE TO ALL THE LATE BLOOMERS.

Vimba Mavimbs Bio

Thembinkosi Mavimbela alias Vimbs Mavimbs is a prolific double bassist, composer, bandleader, producer, musical director. He has played on some of the most iconic albums and has written & performed in prestigious concert halls alongside exceptional musicians. Mavimbs has worked in the jazz fraternity with some iconic musicians such as Dr. Abdullah Ibrahim on on the Ekaya Big Band Tour in South Africa. The late Hugh Masekela, Sibongile Khumalo, Zim Ngqawana. He has been in the jazz scene for the past 14 years working with the likes of Dr. Nduduzo Makhathini, Marcus Wyatt, McCoy Mrubata, Feya Faku, Tumi Mogorosi, Asher Gamedze and many more. He has worked with some iconic vocalists of our generation such as Simphiwe Dana, Msaki, Lindiwe Maxolo, Dumza, Gabi Motuba, Spha Mdlalose, Mandisi Dyantis just to name a few.

Linda Sikhakhane - saxophones

Sphelelo Mazibuko - drums

Benjamin Jephta - bass

Sanele Phakathi - piano

Special Guest : Paras Dlamini - vocals

Linda Sikhakhane presents Iladi

Iladi serves as a testament to Linda’s artistic evolution, blending his imaginative style with compositions rich in cultural significance. This is Sikhakhane’s debut project with Blue Note & Universal Music Group Africa, following an important accolade as the Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz in 2022 which gave birth to Iladi.

Join Linda as he offers a musical expression of gratitude, inviting you to share in a communal experience that is both introspective and celebratory.

Bio Linda Sikhakhane

Through his searching, saxophonist, arranger and composer Linda Sikhakhane epitomises the vibrant evolution of South Africa’s jazz landscape. The Umlazi-born and KwaNongoma descendant musician establishes a conversation between the contemporary and traditional, homegrown and global while steeping his ruminations on the personal, societal, spiritual and cultural in rich tones. Owing inspiration to greats such as John Coltrane, Bheki Mseleku and Winston Mankunku Ngozi, Sikhakhane’s style is informed by the interplay between the metropolitan and the folkloric. His offerings deftly align these sonic influences with theoretical concepts drawn from both hereditary customs and academic abstraction.

He began his musical journey at the Siyakhula Music Centre under the gentle guidance of the late Dr. Brian Thusi which saw him completing a Diploma In Jazz at the University Of KwaZulu Natal. His determination led to a relentless work schedule performing live and also in the studio with Nduduzo Makhathini, his longtime mentor, the H3 horn ensemble and many others. Emerging victorious at the SAMRO Overseas Scholarship competition in

2016, he utilized the prize money to fund his Degree programme at The New School in New York. Here, he was mentored by greats such as Billy Harper, Reggie Workman, David Schnitter and Charles Tolliver.

Sikhakhane is a 2x SAMA and Metro Fm awards nominee for Best Jazz Album with three albums under his name, and was named the Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz in 2022.

He has worked with a broad array of artists: Nduduzo Makhathini, Sibongile Khumalo, Themba Mkhize, Letta Mbuli, Nasheet Waits,Khaya Mahlangu, Gregory Porter, Rodney Kendrick, Rhonda Ross Kendrick, Zakes Bantwini, Logan Richardson, Derrick Hodge, Ted Daniel, Thandiswa Mazwai, Herbie Tsoaeli, Somi and more. He has appeared in many stages locally and abroad such as Makhanda Jazz Festival, Joy Of Jazz, Lincoln Center,

Mamajaz, Caramoor Jazz Festival, The Bird’s Eye Jazz Club, Ronnie Scott’s, Elphilharmonie (Hamburg), just to name a few.

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

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

DIRECTIONS