31st Annual UKZN Jazz Jol - Durban

31st Annual UKZN Jazz Jol

The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music is proud to present the 31st annual UKZN Jazz Jol on Saturday, April 6th, 2019. Traditionally scheduled for the 2nd half of the year, the event has been brought forward to accommodate a visit by Prof Darius Brubeck, who founded the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music, and which commemorates its 30th anniversary this year.

In another break from tradition, the funds generated from the Jol will be donated to the Durban chapter of Amnesty International, instead of the Ronnie Madonsela scholarship. This is an appropriate way to recognize the support of our local community for our student scholarship over these many years, and to thank them by donating the funds to newly-established chapters of Amnesty International at the UKZN School of Law, the Nelson Mandela School of Medicine, and 6 local schools to set them on the path, in their efforts to fight for human rights.

Besides Prof Brubeck, the concert will feature the UKZN Big Band as well as a host of Durban-based alumni, including Melvin Peters, Sazi Dlamini and SKOKIANA, Andile Yenana, Debbie and George Mari, Mfana Mlambo, and Natalie Rungan. Anchoring proceedings will be bassist Ildo Nandja, who will be visiting from the Netherlands, where he is currently registered for his Masters degree in Jazz Studies and drummers Riley Giandhari and Bruce Baker.

Join us for the 31st annual UKZN Jazz Jol on Saturday, April 6th, 2019 at 19:00. General admission to the 31st Annual Jazz Jol is R100, R80 for pensioners and R50 for students with a student card. Please contact Thuli on 031 2603385 or email Zamat1@ukzn.ac.za for more details.

Korey Riker, saxophonist, flautist & featured soloist for John Legend's latest tour - to sit in with Monday Big Band

Media Release

Korey Riker, saxophonist, flautist & featured soloist for John Legend's latest tour - to sit in with Monday Big Band

Durban jazz musicians are making Mondays fun again. The Monday Big Band led by George Mari is performing at KuDTa (Wilsons Wharf) on Mondays from 5:30 - 7:30pm. 

The weekly big band gathering showcases the city's swinging talent and provides an opportunity for a regular big band night – something new for Durban! Featuring a 13-piece line-up of Durban based jazz musicians including Burton Naidoo (piano) Llewellyn Chetty (bass), Sbu Zondi (drums), Debbie Mari (vocals) with Thabo Sikakhane, Phuti Mofokeng and George Mari (trumpets), Mxolisi Mdlalose and Tim Lewis (saxophones), Kgetsi Mokgetsi and Siyalo Khumalo (trombones), and Gerald Sloane (guitar), The Monday Big Band promises to make Monday’s the favourite day of the week with a wide range of repertoire including Little Sunflower, Doxy, Jive Samba, Lullabye of Birdland, South African standards such as Shona, The Mandela Suite and other original compositions by the band members. 

With occasional change in personnel, The Monday Big Band features guest musicians every so often and Monday 6 November is bound to get jazz lovers down to the bay. Philadelphia-based Korey Riker (USA),  who is currently touring with John Legend as saxophonist, flautist and featured soloist for his 'Darkness & Light' tour which comes to Durban the same week, will be sitting in with The Monday Big Band. Riker released his second album ‘Recognizance’ in 2015 and was a recipient of the 2016 Kimmel Center Jazz Composer Residency grant where he was afforded the opportunity to further explore his work as a composer, producer and performer. Riker will be releasing his next album soon.

Catch him live, one night only, with The Monday Big Band on Monday 6 November where he’ll be sharing the bandstand with some of Durban’s finest jazz musicians. 

The Monday Big Band performs every Monday from 5.30pm – 7.30pm at Wilson’s Wharf at KuDTa. Entrance is free.

-ends

Pic: Korey Riker (saxophone)