Arts and entertainment

Masekela to trumpet World Cup

Romaana Naidoo

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26 April 2010

Visiting football fans and Johannesburg residents will have the rare opportunity of watching South African jazz great Hugh Masekela live in concert during the 2010 Fifa World Cup™.

Bra Hugh, as he is fondly known, will be at the Teatro at Montecasino on 8 and 9 July, with the performances starting at 8pm.

The legendary South African trumpeter and flugelhorn player has been hailed around the world for his performances. A popular musician in his own right, he has also collaborated with some of the world's foremost performers, such as Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley, Simply Red and Paul Simon.

Tony Feldman, the show's promoter at Showtime Management, says: "The show will once again consist of the icon together with his unbelievable six-piece band, soulful seven-voice choir, and the talented friends who will join in this celebration of South African music."

Masekela's musical background comprises salsa, samba, mbaqanga, jazz, rock, soul, rhythm and blues, reggae, hi-life and kwassa-kwassa.

Bra Hugh will dazzle the audience with his all-time favourite hits like Stimela, Thanayi, Happy Mama, Lady and Grazing in the Grass. His band includes Erick Paliani on guitar, Lee-Roy Sauls on drums, Fana Zulu on bass and Randal Skippers on keyboards.

The two concerts come after a great demand subsequent to his 70th birthday celebration concert in June 2009. "Due to the overwhelming demand we have decided to stage another Hugh Masekela experience at the Teatro," says Feldman.

"The response and reaction to Bra Hugh's 70th birthday celebration events was so overwhelming, we felt it was a perfect time to re-stage the event during the World Cup football, and to a possible international audience who have never had the privilege of watching the legendary jazz icon on stage and in an intimate setting."

Radio Kaya FM's Mark Mdlela, partners of the concert, adds: "Following the success of last year's concerts, Kaya FM is both proud and privileged to again be associated with the iconic Hugh Masekela. One of the foremost storytellers of the South African music story, Bra Hugh's masterful talents will be a special treat for local and international audiences enjoying the football fever in the country."

Feldman adds that the concerts will not take away from the hype of the World Cup, and will be staged on the "off days" between the semifinals and finals.

Masekela has been performing for more than five decades. He has played to international audiences in places like Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall and Hollywood Bowl, and at the finest jazz festivals, including the Montreaux Jazz Festival and the Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

Other collaborations were with Kippie Moeketsi, Stewart Levine, The Byrds, Minnie Riperton, Eric Gale, Fela Kuti, The Crusaders, Lamont Dozier, Caiphus Semenya, Herb Alpert, Miriam Makeba, Jonathan Butler, Jonas Gwangwa, Letta Mbulu, and Busi Mhlongo, among others.

Projects Masekela has been involved in over the years span The Rumble in the Jungle to Sarafina. "In this time he's also been a father, an activist, a lover, a joker, an outlaw, and above all an artist who has overcome adversity and personal challenges," notes Debbi de Souza, the public relations officer for the concert.

Tickets for the event range from R200 to R375, and are available via Computicket outlets, Computicket online or on 083 915 8000.

Source: City of Johannesburg