Newcastle was presented with an extravagant show called the Live Music and Art Exhibition recently. This gathering of music lovers, visual artists and alternative culture took place at Ekhaya Lounge and Baywash Exclusive Lounge.
Dr Thokozani Mhlambi, an international cellist, composer and the Creative Director of Afropolitan Explosiv who was born in Newcastle, said the program showcased various skills and combined live jazz, R&B and neo soul performances with an exhibition by local artists.
“The first musical act was award-winning Cape Town-based jazz pianist, and member of the magnificent The Unity Band, Lonwabo Mafani. There are many musicians who can play jazz music in Africa, but not all of them can play piano in the African style, that could be heard in the sounds of African jazz masters like Abdullah Ibrahim, Moses Molelekwa and Bheki Mseleku just to name a few, and Mafani is one of them. He took the audience up to the mountains when he played the internationally acclaimed jazz rendition of a Xhosa traditional tune, that was made famous by the formidable Zim Ngqawana, Qula Kwedini.”
Also featured was the artist Nobuntu, a multi-talented and classically trained singer whose sound shifted from hip-hop to soul, African orchestral and folk music. Another musician who is no stranger to the town’s music scene was Cape Town-based singer, songwriter and guitarist, Ron Minor. He accompanied Nobuntu and Lonwabo Mafani on soulful tunes which had the audience singing along.
Local rappers, who are seeking to make a name for themselves, also performed at the show.
The environment was relaxed, which made it possible for an improvised collaboration between Lonwabo Mafani and Dr Thokozani Mhlambi. It was not the first time these two have shared the stage, having held concerts in Durban and Cape Town.
The mixture of piano keys and cello strings turned the whole room into a scene from a movie and the whole crowd became part of the cast.
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