PIETERMARITZBURG -born jazz pianist, composer and producer in different genres of South Africa's musical landscapes, Nduduzo Makhathini, hopes that his performance will bring a spiritual awakening to the attendees of this year's Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF), which will take place on April 25 and 26.
The multiple-award-winning pianist, who's also a lecturer, said: "It will be a spiritual healing. People are possessed when they are on the dancefloor, and we don't know why."
Makhathini has seven albums under his belt as a solo artist, and won numerous awards, including the 2015 Standard Bank Young Artist Award in the category of Jazz, the 2017 All Africa Music Awards for Best Jazz Artist award, South African Music Award for Best Jazz Album in 2017, and in 2022 won Best Jazz Album in Germany for his album, "The Spirit of Ntu", and many others. Makhathini will share the stage with fellow globetrotting Nathi Maphumulo, popularly known as DJ Black Coffee. Together, they've released the Muye project, a continuation of their long-standing collaborative efforts that started with Music Is King.
The pianist and Black Coffee are both alumni of the Durban University of Technology's Music Department (the then Technikon Natal).
"Even though we were not in the same class, as Maphumulo was ahead of me, I knew him when he was still with SHANA, and we would watch their performances, not knowing that they'd one day go big. When I came to Joburg, there was that jazz and dance music barrier. We knew each other since I was with Mam' Busi Mhlongo's band and SHANA was working with her," said Makhathini about how they've built a repertoire with Black Coffee. Makhathini's choice of collaborators proves that he doesn't want to be pigeonholed. He has written and produced songs for Lebo Mathosa (she passed away before she could sing it; the song "uBhuti Lo" ended up with singer Bucie for her Rockstar album), Mondli Ngcobo, Mbuso Khoza, Zwai Bala, Arthur Mafokate and hip hop artist Pitch Black Afro.
Makhathini also wrote and produced most songs on Thandiswa Mazwai's Belede album, which won the Afrima Award for Best Female Southern Africa.He is quick to point out that he hasn't abandoned jazz, and their project with Black Coffee isn't dance or jazz but purely music.
"If you look at the concept of the Music Is King project, the idea was that the genre comes secondary, so music is king. Just like Maphumulo, even though he's into dance music, his music has Mam' Busi Mhlongo, Mabi Thobejane, and Hugh Masekela," said Makhathini.
The Music is King show at the Dome was a sold-out affair for the 20,000-capacity venue. Makhathini is humbled by it all and says that he knows that many people in attendance came for dance music, but he's sure that there were others who went back home as jazz lovers.
So what drives his choice of artists he works with?
The pianist and composer said excellence guides him.
"The whole understanding of excellence is key. Maphumulo is an excellent producer. He's a genius."
At the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Makhathini said people shouldn't expect dance music or jazz, but music.
Even though collaborations have opened many doors for him, he is adamant that he still remains loyal to jazz.
On his other life as a spiritual healer and which artists inspire him, Makhathini said he's always been inspired by artists like Philip Tabane of Malombo, Bheki Mseleku, Zim Ngqawana and Busi Mhlongo.
"Mam' Busi Mhlongo was a sangoma, by the way. It goes back to my grandmother too, uMaMadlala, who was umthandazi (a faith healer). My mom is a musician and has an album out," said Makhathini, whose wife Omagugu is also a singer and has worked with him on many projects, including the seven albums under his belt.
Makhathini said music as a gift goes hand in hand with his calling as a healer.
"It's always my wish that in my performances that people have an awakening. What we will see in Cape Town won't be dance or jazz, but there will be people on the dancefloor."
The rest of the CTIJF line-up includes, Lira, Thandiswa Mazwai, Masego, Incognito, Linda Sikhakhane, Benjamin Jeptha with Kunjenga, Victor Masondo with Bheki Khoza and Thembi, Ari Lennox and Nomfundo Xaluva, to name a few, and the recent inclusion of Kandace Springs, TKZee, Ritmo, and Thembi Dunjana.
Next week, the final four artists will be unveiled - the last puzzle pieces to complete this year’s groundbreaking festival.
For more information, visit www.capetowninternationaljazzfest.com, download the app and follow: @officialcapetownjazzfestival.