BHEKI KHOZA. Phone Adress 93 North Avenue, Bez Valley, Web

Transcription

1

2 BHEKI KHOZA Phone Adress 93 North Avenue, Bez Valley, Web Personal Bhekisisa Khosa is the well-known left handed guitarist from Umlazi, Durban, South Africa. In he received a Talent Award and scholarship to study music in America. He returned in 1995 from studying at the University of Hartford, Connecticut, with the great Jackie Mc- Clean, on of the few living legends. While in America, Bheki was resident with Larry Ridley s jazz legacy playing the whole spectrum of African American music. The band was headed by Larry Ridley himself, who played with Wes Montgomery, Sonny Rollin, Miles Davies, Horace Silver, Kenny Burell, George Benson, Dexter Gordon and far too many other musicians great to mention. By the time Bheki left America he was already making a name for himself playing clubs like Blue Note, Saint Mark s Zinno s and Smalls, a famous club often referred to as: The Mecca of Jazz which has jam sessions every night to all hours. Khoza also played at the famous Shamberg auditorium in Harlem. Some of the musicians he held the opportunity to play with included Kenny Barron, Hilton Ruiz, Kirk Ligtsey, Cecil McBee, Virgil Jones, Charlces Davis and Steve Davis, who now Anarchy, a jam club for African music, in particular. Gigs stemming from the African connection included backing vocalist Floxy Bee from Nigeria and Thuli Dumakude, a singer from South Africa, of Mabatha Fame. Prior to studying in America, Bheki played with the African Jazz Pioneers, Abie Cindi, Sipho Gumede, Winston Mankunku Ngozi, Rene McClean, Victor Ntoni, Mike Makhalemala, George Lee, and Berry Rachabane, among others. He also backed South Africa s famous songbirds, Sibongile Khumalo, Sophic Mgina, Dolly Rathebe, Abigail Kubheka, and Themi

3 Mtshani. During this time Bheki also had his own band Thayima, which played jazz and African music directly addressing the social conditions of the late 1980 s for this reason the band was never recorded. Bheki musical influence are many. His grandmother played Jewish harp and harmonica, and enriched him with tradition of Zulu music which he then found in Phuz Shukela, Kati Elimnyama and Ngane Ziyamfiva. He was also influenced by people at wedding, funerals, in the street and shebeens. Other influences include Philip Thabane, Alan Kwela, Abdulah American Influences-Wes Montogomery, Barney Kessel, Kenny Burrell, Joe Pass, George Benson and Charlie Parker in later which Bheki also picked up. During his early years in Durban, Bheki learnt to play solo due to the lack of full time musicians to accompany him. In spite of this, he has wide experience and interest in small group and big band music alike. Bheki recorded an album entitles Asambe in 1995, which is often aired on Radio Metro and Safm. The album is comprised of original compositions, some of which used to be Shonilanga. Bheki also composed the African Jazz Pioneers hit Sgaxa Mabhande. His recordings include guitar for Mike Makhalemela s last Searching. Bheki was musical director Sophiatown Documentary, released in July Bheki is musical director for the South African film production of Drum, a fictional account of the razing of Sophiatown. The film features a high profile international cast, a wide variety new musical production selections which defined the Sophiatown sound, and many of the surviving musicians who played in the bands of the time. The film is schedule for world premiere in the Spring of Bheki is currently heading his own quarlet which focuses on his many original compositions, featuring drums, piano, bass, and guitar. He has released his debut album Getting to Heaven Alive end of 2006.

4 Teaching Exp. Damelin College 2004 Central Johannesburg College 1998 Alexandra Music Project (Visiting Professor) 1998 University of Natal, Durban 1991 Funda Art Centre, Alexandra, Johannesburg 1987 Alexandra Art Centre 1987 Private Teacher 1987 Wits University 1988 Dorkay House 1988 Summary CV Songs of Life 2014 Bheki Khoza, soon to be released Chimurenga 2013 Recorded and produced Songs and Stories of Africa 2008 Gcina Mhlophe, SAMA best childrens ulbum, PANSALB award Yashi nkani 2007 Bongani Nkwanyana, recorded and produced Ubuntu Barm 2007 Siphokazi Love Movement on Bantu Biko Street 2006 Simphiwe Danna, recorded and produced, won 4 SAMA awards Getting to Heaven Alive 2006 Bheki Khoza, SAMA Award best instrumental jazz album Five Loaves and Two Fish 2004 Nana Magagula Zabalaza 2004 Thandiswa Mazwai Drum: Stories of Sophiatown 2003 Feature Film, music director Sophiatown 2002 Documentary, music director Wemntomnyama 2001 Suthukazi Arosi Africa Gold 1998 Morris Goldberg

5 Asambe 1996 Bheki Khoza Searching 1996 Mike Makhalemela Ghost and the Darkness 1995 Soundtrack Inyakanya 1995 Tu Nokwe The Moon Knows 1995 Steve Davis Ensemble In African Eyes 1992 Rene McClean Quinlet Eyes on Tomorrow 1991 Miriam Makeba Hand Around the Heart 1991 Jenifer Ferguson The Storyteller 1991 David Hewitt Friendly Basses 1989 Bakithi Khumalo Lakutshon Ilanga 1989 Musical Play Stimela Sase Zola 1987 Mbongeni Ngema Casa Conference 1986 African Jazz Pioneers Peace 1984 Peace (Spho Gumede) SKILLS Guitar/ Bass Guitar Piano/ Keyboard Producer Composer Music Teacher Languages: English Zulu Hebrew

6 Phone Adress 93 North Avenue, Bez Valley, Web