Nduduzo Makhathini Trio

The legends of South African jazz influence this pianist and ‘Blue Note recording artist’. Ndudzo Makhatini grew up on the east coast of South Africa. His grandmother was a healer who used songs and music, much like the zulu warriors who came from the same area. The piano entered his life through his mother. In his spirited playing, he links ritual music with jazz and gospel, in the tradition of South African jazz legends such as Bheki Mseleku, Moses Molelekwa and Abdullah Ibrahim. Outside of South Africa, Ndudzo Makhathini made his breakthrough with his first album for the prestigious Blue Note label, Modes of Communication: Letters from the Underworlds, which earned a place in many end of the year ‘Best of’-lists. Last summer his third album on Blue Note appeared, uNomkhubulwane, a three part suite dedicated to the eponymous zulu goddess. Now he will perform in the same line-up as on the album, with Zwelakhe Bell Le Pere on double bass and Francisco Mela on drums.