In association with Concerts SA, we present Andile Yenana doing his #JazzyStraightAhead session.
This performance by Andile Yenana at Jazzy Rainbow is part of the Concerts SA Venue Circuit which aims to foster a love and support for live music in our communities, as well as anchor small and medium sized venues in urban and rural Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and the Western Cape.
Durban’s longest-running jazz lounge, The Jazzy Rainbow, in association with Concerts SA, launched its first straight jazz programme on the eve of Heritage Day later in September and is following up with this concert. “#JazzyStraightAhead is about introducing regular, live, straight jazz concerts to our city in order to help keep the music alive,” says Oliver-Rene Haas. “
“JazzyStraightAhead brings you Andile Yenana. Born in King William’s Town, in a household where music was trult loved, Andile’s love for music was triggered at an early age. His father, Felix Thamsanqa Yenana, had a huge collection of music, ranging from Jazz to Motown, and other forms of urban black music, and this had a huge influence in Andile’s life. Andile obtained a teaching Diploma from the University of Fort Hare in South Africa’s Eastern Cape Province before taking up music studies under Darius Brubeck at the University of Natal’s School of Jazz and Popular Music. It was here that he became friends with saxophonist Zim Ngqawana and trumpeter Feya Faku.
During the 90’s Andile toured and travelled to the USA, doing workshops and delivering talks at the North Western University in Chicago on Jazz, the Arts and the Political Landscape of South Africa. Then in 1996, he travelled to Norway as part of a Cultural Exchange and recorded with Zim Ngqwana and Norwegian Musician and Leader of the Project Bjorn Ole Solberg. To solidify the relationship, an album was recorded in Norway – The SAN Song (South African – Norway Project. Andile returned to Norway in 2002 to record Zim Ngqawana’s debut album Zimology at the Rainbow studios in Oslo.
In 1998 Andile toured England with Zim and British musicians led by the legendary Keith Tippet and also played at the Royal Albert Hall in London, and during that same year was part of a South Africa / France Cultural Exchange project with special attention to Johannesburg and NATES This relationship between Andile and Zim Ngqawan’s, saw these two Artists tour Europe, the USA and South Africa and 5 albums recorded during this period.
The 16th of December 2016 sees Andile Yenana Quartet performing his own straight jazz compositions is the last performance this year with the #JazzyStraightAhead sessions and will be our musical highlight in December. Andile will feature Bucco Xaba on drums, Ildo Nandja on bass and Phumlani Mtiti on alto sax.
Concerts SA is a joint South African/Norwegian live music development project housed within the SAMRO Foundation. Concerts SA receives financial, administrative and technical support from the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, SAMRO, the SAMRO Foundation and Concerts Norway. Working with musicians, promoters, venue owners and audiences, and providing support to the sector through research and skills development for music professionals, the project aims to build a vibrant and viable live music circuit in southern Africa. It also aims to develop an interest in and appreciation of live music by showcasing music performances and conducting workshops at schools.
For more information please visit our website, follow @ConcertsSA on Twitter or like us on Facebook.
Events Listing
Durban – Jazzy Rainbow
Friday 16th December – 7pm – R60
Address: 93, Smiso Nkwanyana, Morningside, Durban
Bookings: +27 31 303 8398 / jazzyrainbow@mweb.co.za