Pianists in concert at UKZN

THE Centre for Jazz and Popular Music at UKZN presents a special edition of the ever-popular Piano Passions concerts, which are characterised by a program of short sets by formidably talented pianists.

This concert on Friday, 6 April, is a belated birthday concert for Professor Darius Brubeck who turned 70 last year. Born in San Francisco, jazz pianist and composer Brubeck grew up in the artistic milieu of his famous father Dave and has enjoyed a lifetime of varied international experience as bandleader, composer and academic. In 1983 he founded the first degree in Jazz Studies in South Africa at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and later created the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music. Together with Ben Pretorius of the Rainbow Jazz Club and Restaurant, they established the Ronnie Madonsela Scholarship for Jazz. This Scholarship has helped many past and present students.

He headlines a roster of former students and highly individual piano stylists including Melvin Peters, Andile Yenana, Neil Gonsalves, Nishlyn Ramanna, Debbie Mari and Burton Naidoo.

April is Jazz Appreciation month and the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music will have the opportunity to launch its program of events for the month in such fine style. The concert will be held at the Howard College theatre so as to enjoy use of the recently refurbished Steinway pianos. Admission is R100, R80 for pensioners and R50 for students. All proceeds accrue to the Ronnie Madonsela scholarship which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.

Contact Thuli Zama on 031 260 3385 or zamat1@ukzn.ac.za for booking and enquiries.