“Nduduzo Makhatini is the Truth”: A Jazz Dispatch from South Africa

By Salim Washington, PhD

I had the distinct pleasure of playing with and listening to the wonderful pianist, Nduduzo Makhatini here in Durban at his double CD launch at the BAT Centre. Nduduzo is this year’s Standard Bank Artist of the Year, a well deserved honor. For those of you stateside, this award is akin to winning the Monk Competition on your instrument, though it is not a competition but an honor conferred by a panel.

I first was made aware of Mr. Makhatini’s music through fellow pianist and fellow native of KwaZulu, Sbu Mashiolane, who is a fine pianist in his own right. I was going to Johannesburg for the first time and needed a pianist. Sbu’s recommendation was quite simple and elegant, “Nduduzo Makhatini is the truth.” He was and is right. My first gig with Nduduzo at teh Bass Line in Jozi was a revelation. We had a great band, and the music was swinging and exploratory, but it was Nduduzo who made time stop still in a transcendent moment that left us all (audience and band alike) transformed.

This evening at the BAT Centre certainly recalled those moments. Nduduzo’s piano playing is very sensitive and soulful. He has a wonderful touch and a great sense of harmony. He always takes his time and never plays something to be flashy or just to play it; every line and every gesture has musical and spiritual meaning. His band had the sensitive dynamics one would expect of a pianist-led band. Indeed some of the most delicious moments were extended passages played at a whisper with the audience on the edge of its seats in delight.

The band included one of South Africa’s hippest jazz drummers, Ayanda Sikhade, a long time friend and brother to Nduduzo. Also in the rhythm section was a young bassist by the name of Dalisu Ndlazi. We were talking amongst the players and we all agree, this young man is a giant in the making. He swings and is always musical, and he is brave as Ayanda put it; that is, he is not afraid to take chances and he is always 100 % making music in the moment. And (all too rare in these parts) he is not afraid of the double bass, though I first heard him killing on the bass guitar when he was in high school (last year). The horn section was also quite wonderful, with Linda Sikhakhane on tenor sax (whom I have written about before in these posts), the very talented Sakhile Simani on trumpet (another prodigy) and Tshepo Tsotesi on alto sax.

As we are here in Durban, it its nice to see such distinguished jazz musicians from the Zulu vibe (historically the jazz world, at least the famous part of it, has been dominated by the Xhosa and Coloured musos). The concert included Mbuso Mbusuyeza singing with strong overtones of Zulu traditional singing. It led to an extended improvisation over hand claps by the band and the audience. A truly African moment. The vocal chair was also shared by the lovely voice of Omagugu Makhatini, who happens to be Nduduzo’s wife.

Well this post will not help you hear this music, but you can order the CD’s: Mother Tongue, and Sketches of Tomorrow, which I urge you to do.