Jazzy Treat at House on Fire
Whoever told these jazz cats to head to the Swazi Kingdom after their gig at the Joy of Jazz was doing them a huge favour, not only will they get blown away by the serenity, beauty and people in the kingdom, but the people of the kingdom get to feast on an unusual jazzy musical treat. Nice one. Sam Mtukudzi, (the gifted son of the legendary Oliver) and his superbly talented friends from New York and Denmark, Max Wild and Soren Moller, are gonna blow the House on Fire down. GO GO GO!!!
MAX WILD & SAM MTUKUDZI
with special guest Soren Moller at
House on Fire, Swaziland
30th August
Swazi audiences are set for a thrilling concert on Saturday August 30 featuring powerhouse jazz saxophonist Max Wild from New York in a stunning Afro-beat collaboration with Sam Mtukudzi, son of legendary Zimbabwean performer ‘Tuku’, fast emerging as a major singer-songwriter sensation in his own right.
Joining the 8-piece band as special guest is the prodigious Danish jazz pianist Soren Moller, regarded as Denmark’s hottest new jazz talent. The act is being featured at this year’s Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival in Johannesburg, and immediately after performs exclusively at House on Fire.
In April and May this year Max Wild and Sam Mtukudzi launched their new brand of jazz Afro-beat, with overtones of chimurenga music, wowing audiences at the famous Joe’s Pub in New York and then on to HIFA Festival in Zimbabwe.
Max and Sam have created a sound that spans continents, a collision of jazz and Afro-beat. In April Max and Sam followed up their single ‘Teerera’ with a full-length album, an ambitious cross-Atlantic collaboration, which teams Max’s New York jazz quintet with Sam Mtukudzi, features Oliver Mtukudzi and showcases compositions by Max, Sam, Oliver, and Nigerian bassist Michael Olatuja, with lyrics in Shona, Ndebele, Yoruba, and English.
Max Wild has been turning heads on the Big Apple jazz scene with his distinct sound and Afro-infused jazz compositions. Born in Zimbabwe where he grew up, his musical career took off under the tutelage of British jazz greats Tim Garland and Julian Arguelles. He toured UK and Germany in 2001 performing at Berlin’s prestigious A Trane Jazz Club. In London Max appeared with Guildhall Jazz Orchestra, performing Gil Evans’ Porgy and Bess with Randy Brecker at Barbican Hall and Gil Evans’ Sketches of Spain with Dave Liebman.
Since moving to New York in 2002, Max has been part of the Manhattan Afro-Cuban Jazz Orchestra, directed by acclaimed Latin percussionist Bobby Sanabria, with many performances at New York’s renowned Birdland jazz club. Max has performed twice at Carnegie Hall. He has since started his own jazz quintet performing regularly in the New York jazz circuit, an amazing feat for this jazz prodigy, at just 26-years old.
He has since performed with world acclaimed Grammy-nominated jazz tenor sax Mark Turner and recorded with African super-star Oliver Mtukudzi; Wild has matured into an artist whose music defies stylistic boundaries in a collision of jazz-rock and Afro-beat.
The son of Oliver Mtukudzi, Sam Mtukudzi released his first album ‘Rume Rimwe’ this year selling thousands in the first month. Sam came to public attention in 2006, performing in his father’s band, with his multi-instrumental talents and voice. Like his father, he is a striking performer with energy and charisma that has the audience enraptured. Sam’s band, the ‘Ay Band’ has already performed throughout Africa.
Also touring with the band is Danish jazz pianist, Soren Moller, considered one of the outstanding Danish jazz talents today. He co-founded NYNDK Jazz Collective, an ensemble of established musicians from Scandinavian and New York jazz scenes. The NYNDK Jazz Collective has toured extensively and performed at Lincoln Centre, earning warm praise from New York Times. In 2007 Soren Moller premiered his big band at The Copenhagen Jazz Festival.
He has toured extensively in Europe, receiving rave reviews. Since moving to New York in 2002, he has established a reputation as a formidable jazz talent and has recorded and toured with Dick Oatts, Mark Turner, Jason Marsalis, Cameron Brown, Ari Honig, John Benitez, Tony Moreno, Scott Neumann and a many famous names. He has toured England, Germany, Norway, Italy, Holland, USA and Denmark.
Saturday 30th August
8pm
E100 (R100)
For Bookings of Tables and Boxes call House on Fire Hotline (+268) 5282110 / 5283170
Tickets on Sale at the Door
