Represent’s watching: DJ BlaQt
DJ BlaQt doesn’t only have a MySpace blog updating us on all his parties and what went down, he also performs at The House of Nsako in one of our FAVOURITE Jozi suburbs, Brixton (show it more love people, it’s an iconic suburb in need of TLC, spokespeople and preservation) and he showcases great singers like Nthabi… he’s also a nationwide artist, playing at fabulous festivals like Chimurenga’s PanAfricanSpaceStation in CT… But more importantly, he’s seriously got his finger clicking through the Web 2.0 good behaviour manual: his emails are non-intrusive but consistent, his websites and flyers are well designed and interactive and most importantly, like the rest of the music industry throughout the world, he’s making music samplers available for fans to download and sample, so they know what they get when they rock his party. Oh and did we mention we love his tunes? We’re watching you DJ BlaQt. Naas one. Represent! The B-Side presents...
Drum down on Heritage Day
What an opportunity Representers, make sure to catch the Once Off performance at the JAG of master drummer Samson Mudzunga this Heritage Day: Legendary drum-maker Samson Mudzunga will be presenting his latest performance: Fish Drum from Lake Fundudzi. The two-hour performance will incorporate the domba, malende and tshikona dances. During the performance Mudzunga will also re-enact his arrest after an altercation with Venda chiefs. The drum that Mudzunga will be using for this performance is large enough for him to fit inside. The drum was made from wood drawn from the spiritually charged waters of Lake Fundudzi in Limpopo. Samson Mudzunga is a self taught artist who was born near Lake Fundudzi in 1938. He has been exhibiting his work since 1988. Much of his works are based on over-sized drums which he uses during his performances. These drums are also adaptations of traditional drums used during various Venda ceremonies such as initiation rituals. By transforming these drums both in form and conceptually to new and often non-sacral uses, Mudzunga straddles the divide between traditional art and contemporary art. For instance one of Mudzunga performances involves him being buried in one of the drums only to...
Old meets New School – Arts Alive Poetry
Kwani‘s back after whipping up a storm in Europe… Go and celebrate their oodles of talent at an unplugged session with the legendary Pops Mohammed as part of the Arts Alive festival – the Poetry line-up. Don’t miss it. There’s so much going on, this is just one event of many fabulous events/concerts/parties/jols… here’s a taster: The band Kwani Experience have just come back from another successful European tour of the Netherlands, Belgium and Bosnia-Herzegovina and are hitting the stage again with bags under their eyes. The band Kwani Experience have just come back from another successful European tour of Netherlands, Belgium and Bosnia-Herzegovina and are hitting the stage again with bags under their eyes. The band’s touring success is making them one of South Africa’s greatest exports following in the footsteps of many jazz, rock and alternative bands and groups who have had the privilege of performing outside Africa. One of those artists is Pops Mohammed, a living legend, and Kwani is sharing the stage & a repertoire with him. Pops Mohammed and Kwani Experience Unplugged Kwani Experience will this Saturday the 13th of September share the stage with the veteran Pops Mohammed for the Arts Alive Speak The Mind sessions, the poetry soiree of the annual Arts Alive festival. The term ‘unplugged’ will mean that Kwani Experience will only perform with 4 of its 6 core members, which will make this collaboration a totally different Kwani ‘Experience’. Pops and Kwani will perform exclusive material, sharing the stage with acts from South Africa, Zimbabwe, U.S.A, Trinidad, Angola and Kenya for one night only so be sure to check it out. No First Timers But this will be the 5th time the two local-international brands perform together. The first four times were in 2006 and 2007 for a project called Ashes to Machines that Kwani and Bra Pops are involved in, together with French producers, DJ Oil and Jeff Sharel. An album from this collaboration is due to be released early next year once a distribution deal for South Africa has been finalized. For more on the festival and Artists: www.artsalive.co.za...
Represent Review: Joy of Jazz 08
This years line up was so juicy, we just had to get amongst one of Joburg’s (and soon to be the world’s…) premier jazz music festivals, the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz. Reuben ‘The Matrix’ Malema does the honours below, Nkateko Siweya tells our photostory here… 31 August 2008. The Foothills of Moretele Park – Mamelodi – Pretoria (City of Tshwane), the setting of this year’s SA Music Heroes Concert. For us (true jazz followers) it was an assortment of choice on a silver platter. As the impressive line-up of stars was flaunted, I found myself in a very bitter-sweet predicament. Looking up at the aging league of our household favourites, I gazed upwards (in peasant style) as the old guard performed, with my glazed cheeks and my broad smile; but I was saddened, as I wondered to myself what the future of South African jazz holds. Our legends are aging very quickly, from Bro Hugh Masekela to Mama Letta Mbuli, the torch is surely changing hands… but to whom? And yet, I cling on… The Event Mr. Wilson Mankuku Nkosi mashed us up with his mature trumpet sounds, following suite was Mrs. Nothembeni Mkwebana who immediately sent us on a systematic repertoire of jump action moves as we unanimously responded to her rock ‘n roll aligned musical chords. Her guitar skills drove me insane! Jimmy Dludlu with his maestro guitarist skills quelled us under his charming spell as we hummed the tunes to his famous tunes. I am such a down-beat fan! At 18:00, my favourite jazz artist, Mr. Jonas Gwangwa ascended the platform. His well known originals: Batsomi and Kgomo, had the multitudes passionately singing along: “Nna di sa fele Nka di busa, di sa fele Nka di busetsa morago…” I love this song!!! August being the end of Women’s month, it was fitting that Mzansi’s famous jazz couple (who were coincidentally celebrating their 40th Anniversary) be crowned the flagship performers of the evening. Ladies and Gentlemen: Mr. Caiphus Semenya and Ms Letta Mbuli. They are such an inspiration to me and many of their avid fans. The evening was sealed off with a colourful display of majestic fireworks. What a smoky way to enter a new season! I so wished the blossom season can be ushered in by a renewed affirmation to the nurturing, growth and sustainability of the genre by young and talented Jazz artists with a fresh new sound and long term commitment. We need to revive and preserve our country’s jazz heritage. Before it is too late. Reuben-The Matrix-...
Represent Review: Jazz at Moratele Park
Reuben ‘The Matrix’ Malema kicked back at a highly entertaining day of jazz at Moratele Park last weekend in a warmer Tshwane. Obviously The Matrix had a ball, but he just couldn’t quiet a nagging question – ‘Who will replace the Jazz greats when they’re gone?’ See our photostory from Represent’s supertalented photographer, Nkateko Siweya, by clicking here. Friday night – 29 August 2008. The Newtown Cultural Precinct. Rejoicing in the mellow tunes of jazz is the prevailing mood and yours truly is taking it very slow. Jazz, like all other things which are so blissfully fulfilling, demands that one graciously savour it in bite-size portions lest you spoil the encapsulating experience that is so full of delight. The organizers of this year’s colossal event left nothing to chance. Enthused fans and all visitors had to park their vehicles at the Old Johannesburg Train Station located adjacent to the Market Theatre on Carr Street. The entire area of the Event was fenced off and fully equipped security personnel tirelessly scoured the populous venue. Creative décor and free-flowing performing arts unfolded unhampered as the entire venue was transformed into a Kofifi/ Marimba cultural village of yesteryear: Sofiatown. Flute and harmonica tunes taunted the mind to imagine a place that mostly exists in the National Archives of South Africa’s past cosmopolitan glory (or the Drum magazine archives – Ed 😉 ). The eyes couldn’t help but swiftly teleport the mind into the world of the unison dancers of the smash hit: Sarafina! I found myself uncontrollably whistling away to the familiar harmony : “O tla utlwa bo-tsotsi ba re: a re yeng ko Meadowlands! Meadowlands, Meadowlands, Meadowlands Sithandwa sam’ !” Priceless! The Event At 19h00, yours truly and Mr. Siweya enjoyed the exemplary performance of local artist Mark Fransman at the Dinaledi stage. The Market Theatre played host to the Classic Jazz Masters followed by the charming Simphiwe Dana (If only wishes were horses). 20h15, by this time my partying mood had reached fever pitch, with the least intension of slowing down. We headed for the Mbira stage to catch the fantastic showcase of artistic skill and unlimited ease of the Nigerian born ‘Asa’. 21h15 still at Mbira, I was plunged (head first!) into a whirlpool of romantic ballads by Ringo Madlingozi, my sense of imaginary infatuation was completely and utterly drenched into a soapy mess!! The Spinners from USA skillfully breached the fun between Dinaledi stage and Bassline where Joshua Redman (USA) twirled us about with his ingenious saxophonist melodies. I thought this event was totally fabulous. Thank you Standard Bank for taking us down the Sofiatown history timeline and...
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