Nduduzo makhathini biography examples
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Nduduzo Makhathini
Encountering Bheki Mseleku: a biographical-analytical consideration of his life and music
This thesis presents a study of one of the seminal figures in South African jazz, Bheki Mseleku (... more This thesis presents a study of one of the seminal figures in South African jazz, Bheki Mseleku (1955-2008). Born in South Africa, Mseleku is notable for his compositions, virtuosic pianism, recordings with leading jazz figures including Abbey Lincoln, Pharoah Sanders, and Joe Henderson, as well as his musical influence locally in South Africa and in London where he lived in exile. By drawing on journalistic accounts and interviews with Mseleku's family members, fellow First and foremost, I want to thank Bheki Mseleku for sharing his music and life with all of us, and making sacrifices to ensure that today we are able to play and think about the music in the way we do. My warmest gratitude goes out to the Mseleku family both in the South Africa and in London for sup
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NDUDUZO MAKHATHINI
Photo of Bheki Mseleku courtesy of John Watson.
Music should be just experienced every time, all the day[s] of your life. It should also [be] a spiritual thing, a ritual.
Bheki Mseleku (The South Bank Show, 1994)
Introduction
In this article inom explore various notions of spirituality at work in Bheki Mseleku’s life and music. Drawing on interviews, personal correspondence, published articles, documentaries and Mseleku’s musical output, inom am especially interested in Mseleku’s own remarks concerning music and spirituality, ultimately to arrive at a more nuanced understanding of his music and performance process. My approach in this chapter stems in the first instance from the way in which Mseleku embeds both his music and his worldview or life philosophy in an acute awareness of spirituality:
I live my life by being more aware of the spiritual world; I am attracted for instance to the spiritual masters; the teachings of Jesus, the teachings of Buddha, th
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Nduduzo Makhathini (born in uMgungundlovu, Pietermaritzburg on 24 September 1982) is a South African jazz musician. He was the recipient of the 2015 Standard Bank Young Artist Award in the category of Jazz, and at the 2017 All Africa Music Awards he won the Best Jazz Artist award.
Makhathini plays with a bright lyricism and a full sound pallet that gives him a markedly wide melodic vocabulary. His music shares a comparative searching sensibility along with a keen spiritual focus like the music of the late jazz pianist, Bheki Mseleku.
Makhathini has toured extensively, having performed with Zim Ngqawana, Simphiwe Dana, Feya Faku, and McCoy Mrubata. He has also recorded with other strongly rooted titans such as Busi Mhlongo, Carlo Mombelli, Salim Washington and Herbie Tsaoeli.
Makhathini was born and raised in uMgungundlovu in South Africa’s Kwa-Zulu Province. The area enjoys a convergence of a heritage of ritual practice and music. It’s important to note that the area’s Zulu wa