Friday 17th March
This performance by the Freeman and Friends at The 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 in September 2016 and is following up with the same concept in 2017. “#JazzyStraightAhead is about introducing regular, live, straight jazz concerts to our city in order to help keep the music alive,” says Oliver-Rene Haas. “
Nkululeko Freeman Gumede, fondly known as Freeman to many, was born on the South Coast in a little town called eDududu. After relocating to KwaMashu, Durban at the tender age of seven, his family began to see signs of his artistic nature. Freeman loved anything that involved music, drama and drawing. He was often seen making use of tins and buckets as drums, “I’d beat them ‘til the sun went down” Freeman says. As he grew up he was inspired by his musically gifted mother and siblings, who were all part of choirs and that motivated him to get involved in music. Freeman’s music career path began to become clearer in 2010 when he started to play bass guitar and that year he started a band with friends that he grew up with. He has since developed a great love and passion for bass.
His musical background has largely been in the gospel arena, but in 2012 he attended Kcap (KwaMashu Community Advancement Projects) classes, started to listen to more and more jazz, and was hooked. Freeman has been afforded the opportunity to do a lot of gigs sharing stages with big names such as Hugh Masekela, Judith Sephuma, Lira, Jimmy Dludlu and others in a range of different genres. He is currently studying towards a music degree at UKZN Howard College campus. The repertoire that he will present at the Jazzy Rainbow on the evening of the 17th of March will be straight ahead jazz fused and mixed with soulful jazz and includes pieces originally done by Kirk Whalum, Sipho Gumede, Curtis Fuller as well as some of his very own compositions.
The band members to accompany him will be: Obakeng Thamage on the piano and Lesedi Tlholoe on drums, but also featuring Nosihe Zulu (vocals) and Mxolisi Mdlalose (saxophone).
The Jazzy Rainbow 93 Smiso Nkwanyana Road 4001 Morningside
Friday 17th March entrance 7pm entrance fee 40 Rand including a free drink for students only (T&C)
Bookings: phone 031-3038398 or email jazzyrainbow@mweb.co.za
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.
