Arts and entertainment

Jazz legend Mankunku in concert

30 April 2008

Winston Mankunku Ngozi, one of South Africa's living jazz legends, is to produce his first DVD. The tenor sax and jazz composer will record live at Cape Town's Artscape Opera House at 8pm on 2 and 3 May.

It will be an orchestrated concert including the Darryl Andrews Big Band, Andile Yenana, Marcus Wyatt, Mike Perry, 12 backing vocals and many more musicians.

Following on his famous recording of "Yakhal' Inkomo" in 1968, "Mankunku" became a household name in South African townships.

He has performed with top South African and international artists, and his contribution to the music industry is recognised globally for its artistic authenticity and vital link between the Afro- and American jazz form.

Tickets cost R120 each day for the three-hour recording/concert. Seats are unreserved. Book through Computicket or Dial-a-seat at 021 421 7695.

The concert is sponsored by Artscape and the Department of Arts and Culture.

Jazz under the shadow of apartheid

Winston Monwabisi Mankunku Ngozi was born in Retreat, Cape Town in 1943. His musicality emerged at an early age and was carefully nurtured by his mother, Gertrude Ngozi.

Having experimented with piano and trumpet, Mankunku took up saxophone in his mid-teens.

Along with one in three families, the Ngozi family was forcefully removed from their Retreat home and relocated to Gugulethu township under the notorious Group Areas Act in the early 1960s.

By this time, Mankunku was already gigging extensively. His earlier influences in Cape Town included Midge Pike, Parks Joya, Cups and Saucers Nkanuka, Merton Barrow and Chris Columbus Ngcukana.

John Coltrane was perhaps Winston's greatest source of inspiration, and his admiration for Coltrane has endured throughout his career.

South Africa's jazz was profoundly affected by apartheid, and as the regime tightened its hold during the 1960s, many musicians and singers went into exile. Musicians at home were discouraged and even prevented from playing together "across the colour line".

'Winston Man'

In 1964, Mankunku held a concert at the Cape Town City Hall under the pseudonym "Winston Man", playing behind the curtain to avoid possible repercussions.

In 1968 he recorded the famous "Yakhal' inkomo" album together with Early Mabuza, Agrippa Magwaza and Lionel Pillay. Although he received the Castle Lager Jazz Musician of the Year award, and despite the fact that the album sold well - and still does (it has been released at least three times) - Mankunku barely received any financial reward.

Despite this, Mankunku remained in South Africa and, having grown cynical of the local music industry, resolved to take music to the people through live performances.

Over the years he has played with most top South African top musicians, including Barney Rachabane, Chris McGregor, Victor Ntoni, Sammy Hartman, Chris Schilder, Monty Webber, Abdullah Ibrahim, Pat Matshikiza, Sandile Shange, Darius Brubeck, Roger Khoza, Robbie Jansen, the Soul Jazzmen, and Bheki Mseleku.

He has also performed with many international greats, such as Chick Corea, Mcoy Tyner, Prof Joe Henderson, Prof Mike Rossi, Jack Van Poll, Dave Young, Manu Dibango, and Toots Thielemans.

In 1975 he formed the band The Cliffs, which recorded the album "Alex express" and embarked on a national tour to promote their album.

Collaborations with Mike Perry

Having been introduced by Johnny Gertze in 1976, Mankunku worked extensively with the pianist Mike Perry in the early 1980s. This led to the recording of the acclaimed album "Jika" in 1987, as well as the formation of Mankunku and Perry's label, Nkomo Records.

"Jika" was recorded in Cape Town and in London and was used as a vehicle for conveying protest messages to the apartheid government, through songs like "Wajikeleza" and "Asiyapho".

Mankunku's international status grew over the following years. He toured Germany and the UK with Perry in 1989, Sweden and Norway in 1993, and in 1996 he twice toured Belgium with pianist Jack Van Poll. This tour included a memorable set with Toot Thielemans, who came in for two songs and ended up playing the entire show.

In 1996, Mankunku and Perry recorded their follow-up album, "Dudula". In 1997 Mankunku recorded "Molo Africa".

In 2000, Mankunku graced the Africa stage at the North Sea Jazz Festival at The Hague, Holland. He has also travelled to Brazil, Mexico, Sao Palo, Rome and Japan.

In 2006 he released his latest album, "Abantwana Be Africa". He was a featured artist in two concerts, billed as "Symphony Meets Jazz", in Durban and Johannesburg in October 2007.

SAinfo reporter