Legendary guitarists to show off skills at solo concert
This will be Madala Kunene and Bheki Khoza's first live performances since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic.
BHEKI Khoza and Madala Kunene will showcase their skills live in concert at the KZNSA Gallery in Glenwood, Durban on Saturday, December 4.
iSupport Creative Business, in collaboration with the gallery and supported by Concerts SA have put together this legendary experience.
Khoza, a well-known left-handed guitarist, hails from Umlazi and the King of Zulu Guitar, Kunene, was born in Cato Manor.
They both have extensive careers in music, which is why organiser Marlyn Ntsele from iSupport Creative Business, thought it would be great to feature both guitarists in an intimate, semi-acoustic concert.
Musicians like Khoza and Kunene are largely underrated in the industry, yet have contributed immensely to the South African guitar sounds. At iSupport we feel this should be celebrated, and doing this at our first live concert since the start of the pandemic would be no better time,” said Ntsele.
iSupport invites audiences to enjoy and also show their support to these musicians, who have not been able to perform during these difficult times of a pandemic, she added.
In 1991, Khoza received a Talent Award and scholarship to study music at the University of Hartford, Connecticut in the US. He returned with one of the few living legends, the great Jackie McClean, in 1995.
He has played with Kenny Barron, Hilton Ruiz, Kirk Lightsey, Cecil McBee, Virgil Jones, Charles Davis and Steve Davis. Gigs stemming from the African connection included backing vocalist Floxy Bee from Nigeria and Thuli Dumakude, a singer from South Africa, of Mabatha Fame.
Khoza is also renowned for his composition of the African Jazz Pioneers hit Sgaxa Mabhande. He is the musical director of the South African film production of Drum, a fictional account of the razing of Sophiatown.
Born in 1951, Kunene started busking on Durban’s beachfront at the age of 7, making his first guitar out of a cooking oil tin and fish gut for the strings.
He was encouraged by his friends such as Sandile Shange, to take his guitar playing more seriously. In no time he became the hottest guitar player which led to his being discovered by Sipho Gumede.
On his rise, he shared the stage with luminaries such as Doc Mthalane, Songamasu, Shor Philips, Mankunku Ngozi and Busi Mhlongo.
The concert is made possible by The SAMRO Foundation/Concerts SA. Concerts SA is a joint South African/Norwegian live music development project housed under the auspices of SAMRO and managed by IKS Cultural Consulting.
The show takes place at the KZNSA Gallery in Glenwood, Durban on Saturday, December 4. Doors open at 18:00 and tickets are available on Webtickets for R60.
For more information, please visit ConcertsSA, follow @ConcertsSA on Twitter or like their Facebook page @ConcertsSA.
