Saturday 9 June
The Rainbow Restaurant, in association with Concerts SA, presents the Thabang Tabane Band with special guest Madala Kunene.
On 16 May, Thabang and Rainbow owner Neil Comfort agreed terms for this concert. “It had been far too long since we had heard the Malombo drums on The Rainbow stage. In the days preceding, as we messaged back and forth, I asked him to pass our regards along to his father, the father of Malombo Jazz, Dr. Philip Tabane – the leader of the first group to ever perform on The Rainbow stage, way back in May 1983”.
On 18 May, Dr. Tabane passed away. A legend at the Rainbow. A legendary African guitarist. RIP.
Comfort continues, “I asked Thabang if he wanted to postpone the concert. His reply was, “My father was a spiritual being and he expressed himself through music. He passed on the culture to me and I too express myself through music. This tour is a way of me healing and at the same time expressing myself to the world””.
When asked how long he and the band had been together Tabane mused “It’s been a while. They are my childhood friends (from Mamelodi). They would always ask to play with me but at the time I had other band members so I could not take them in. With my latest album coming up, I thought let me take them and I’m happy about my decision as we clicked immediately and created magical sounds together.”
Thabang Tabane will perform on Malombo drums and will be joined by Dennis Magagula on djembe and toys, Mpho Tshwale on keyboard and Bafana Ndlovu on bass guitar. On the Monday before the gig Durban guitar great Madala Kunene asked to join the performance as a guest, no doubt to pay respect to his friend and contemporary Africanist.
Comfort enthused “Personally, I am thrilled by this news as Thabang was always going to include such classic Malombo tracks as Father and Mother and Mpedi in the concert, so now the audience are in for a real treat, with a ‘Madalaline’ treatment on the cards. With it being a free entrance gig, I just hope the uninitiated recognise the greatness that is being given to them for free”.
Tabane will be taking his new album on the road to Europe and other destinations in Africa. Please do find his musician page, Thabang.tabane.501 on Facebook – follow, share and keep up to date. The album is entitled Matjale, which was his grandmother’s name. Deep respect to the ancestors.
DATE: Saturday 9 June
VENUE: Rainbow Restaurant, 23 Stanfield Lane, Pinetown
TIME: Music between 4pm and 6pm
For booking enquiries please contact 031 7029161
FREE ENTRANCE
This event is made possible by the support The Rainbow receives from CONCERTS SA
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.
Follow @ConcertsSA on Twitter at twitter.com/ConcertsSA or like us on Facebook at facebook.com/ConcertsSA.
