Jazzing things up
The Jazzy Rainbow will host three powerful female artists
THREE talented women will underscore their star potential at the Jazzy Rainbow this month, with three powerful performances.
Durban jazz singer Luazy will make her debut solo performance tonight.
Singer and saxophonist Zintle Msane performs on Friday, March 15, and bass player Sibongile Gwacela plays on March 22.
Luazy, which is short for Nolwazi Ydrestal, is a student at UKZN’s School of Music. She described her sound as “calm but hip, rhythmic, harmonic and melodic, of course. It’s all about happy music really, and I sing jazz, so I always try to choose songs that instil happiness.”
Although this is her first solo debut performance, Luazy is no stranger to the stage. The 34-year-old singer has performed alongside many South African artists, such as Black Coffee, Joyous Celebration, Sibongile Khumalo, Vusi Nova, Israel Houghton, Potters House Choir, Joel Zuma, Khaya Mthethwa and others.
“I’ve been very blessed and lucky to share the stage with all these people. The one experience that I share with all of them is that, as an artist, you must take your art seriously. If you put in the time, then whoever is listening to it is going to hear that you put in the time to prepare what you’re offering.
“These artists all respect one another and they celebrate one another, and when you are with these people, you don’t feel like you are less than them – instead you feel like they want to inspire you.
“They also speak highly of treating people well and supporting each other in the industry, and the excellence of it all. The excellence in all they do and the precision is what has inspired me and what has really kept me going as an artist.”
On her performance at Jazzy Rainbow tonight, she said she would perform three of her compositions and a few jazz standards.
“I’m a bit nervous because I never really thought I was going to do my own show. And I never thought that I could write songs. In 2016, I would wake up with melodies and then I would get my phone immediately and record it.
“Sometimes I remember lyrics from my dreams and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes it’s just a sound. Two of my songs don’t even have lyrics because they don’t need lyrics. For my solo performance, I’ll also be doing some local covers as well. This concert is a step in a direction that I never thought I was going to take,” she added. Like Luazy, songstress and saxophonist Zintle Msane is also a student at UKZN’s Howard College, studying saxophone under wellknown jazz saxophonist and composer, Salim Washington.
The musician has performed at jazz festivals including The uMlazi Jazz Festival, Imbokodo Jazz Festival and has appeared at the Jazz Expression.
She has also performed live on Ukhozi FM and Khaya FM. Regarding her performance at the Jazzy Rainbow, Msane will perform music out of the jazz genre, accompanied by a band consisting of Sanele Phakathi on piano, Dalisu Ndlazi on double bass, Kabelo Boy Mokhatla on drums, Sinalo Zulu on trumpet and Siyalo Zulu on trombone.
Sibongile Gwacela is a bass player, originally from Durban. She studied jazz music at Tshwane University of Technology and is currently mentored by the great Grammy award-winning bassist, Victor Wooten.
Her musical career began at Macufe Jazz Festival, when she opened the stage for the late
Busi Mhlongo, Letta Mbuli and Thandiswa Mazwayi.
She has performed with Bishop Eddie Long 12 Tenors (USA), Brian Carson (the late Whitney Houston’s pianist), Basadi Women of Jazz, Sello Galane, Ntombi Ngcobo (from Amaponi) and James Akon David DEE. Gwacela’s performances at Jazz Festivals in South Africa include the Hazelmere Dam Jazz Fest, Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, Macufe Festival and the Soweto Jazz Fest.
She has performed in Egypt, Algeria, Malaysia, Uganda and Indonesia. Her band consists of Lungelo Ncobo on piano, Bucco Xaba on drums and Thabo Sikhakane on trumpet. On the night she will perform standards and her own compositions within the jazz genre.
Entrance to all three shows: 7pm, R100, including a free drink (T&Cs). Address: The Jazzy Rainbow, 93 Smiso Nkwanyana Rd, Morningside. Bookings: Call 031 303 8398, or email jazzyrainbow@mweb.co.za
Sometimes I remember lyrics from my dreams and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes it’s just a sound. Nolwazi ‘Luazy’ Ydrestal Jazz musician