Durban – The Chairman: Thursday 1st June – 10.30pm
Durban – Venue TBC [Workshop]: Friday 2nd June – Further details to be released soon
In association with Concerts SA, multi-award winning Motswana-South African pianist, composer and producer Bokani Dyer will be on tour with his Trio in June, performing for the very first time in this configuration in Durban, Bloemfontein and across the border in Maputo.
Dyer is known and respected for his creative, sensitive compositions and playing, which have garnered him a fan base across the world, and see him collaborate regularly with musical luminaries from SA and abroad. The Bokani Dyer Trio was selected to perform at the prestigious Jazzahead showcase in Bremen, Germany in 2016 and, as a result, have been invited to perform in a highly coveted slot at the Musiques en Ete festival in Geneva, Switzerland at the end of July 2017. Dyer was also a featured solo artist as part of the opening of the SA/Russia Seasons in late 2016, playing to audiences in Moscow and St Petersburg, and recently added Kenya to his list of international performances after playing with the Trio to a capacity crowd at the Safaricom Jazz Festival in Nairobi.
Based in Johannesburg, the Trio features Sonor endorsee Sphelelo Mazibuko on the drums, and a feminine touch with the in demand Romy Brauteseth on the double bass. For the Maputo leg of the tour, Marlon Witbooi will be holding the drum sticks. The Bokani Dyer Trio performs their distinctive South African jazz regularly in Gauteng and recently performed in Cape Town as one of the featured artists at the South African Jazz Educators Festival. They are looking forward to their Concerts SA tour which will see them perform for the first time in four venues. Says Dyer, “It is always a pleasure to play a new venue, or a new town. I’m really looking forward to sharing our music with new audiences, particularly the new material from the upcoming Trio album.”
Dyer has recorded three jazz albums under his own name. His debut album, Mirrors (2010), launched the style and artistic trajectory he continues to pursue. Emancipate the Story (2011), was recorded during his time as Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year, as part of the award, and continued his musical journey, exploring the tradition and furthering the contemporary landscape of SA jazz through his compositions. His most recent offering, World Music (2015), was received with much respect and acclaim from both the SA and international music worlds, and nominated for Best Jazz Album at the 2016 South African Music Awards.
The Concerts SA Bokani Dyer Trio tour has been put together by Nikki Froneman of Arte Viva Management who says “It is very exciting to be expanding our touring circuit, working for the first time both with regular Concerts SA host venues such as The Chairman in Durban, and brand new partners such as the Bloemfontein Jazz Evenings and the Jazz Leisure Sessions in Maputo.”
The tour launches on Thursday 1 June at The Chairman in Durban before moving inland for a night at Coco C in Bloemfontein on Saturday 3 June, with supporting act the Andile Qongqo Trio. The Trio then heads up to Mozambique on Friday 23 June for a concert at the Fundação Fernando Leite Couto, followed by a performance at the Jazz Leisure Sessions on Saturday 24 June. The Trio will present workshops in all tour cities as well – interested musicians can email nikki@artevivamanagement.com for details and to book.
Bokani Dyer Trio’s KZN, Free State & Maputo 2017 Tour is supported by Concerts SA through the Music Mobility Fund, a funding mechanism which offers opportunities for South African musicians to undertake live music tours.
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 http://concertssa.co.za, follow @ConcertsSA on Twitter at twitter.com/ConcertsSA or like us on Facebook at facebook.com/ConcertsSA.
Artist Links
Web: www.bokanidyer.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Bokani-Dyer-Artist-Page-234735486675217
Twitter: www.twitter.com/BokaniDyer
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/BokaniDyer
Soundcloud: www.soundcloud.com/bokani-dyer
Events Listing
KZN
Durban – The Chairman [Performance]
Thursday 1st June – 10.30pm – R150
Address: 146 Mahatma Gandhi Rd, Point, Durban
Bookings: 031 368 2133 / 072 658 0746 / info@thechairmanlive.com
Durban – Venue TBC [Workshop]
Friday 2nd June – Further details to be released soon
Information: nikki@artevivamanagement.com
NATIONAL
Bloemfontein – TOMS [Workshop]
Saturday 3rd June – 11am – R100 (20 free places available to concert ticket holders; booking essential)
Address: Corner Kelner Road & 1st Avenue, Bloemfontein
Bookings: 073 300 9967 / info@lesleyjennings.com
Bloemfontein – Coco C [Performance]
Saturday 3rd June – 7.30pm – R200 (early bird) / R250 (door)
Address: 56, 2nd Floor, Loch Logan Waterfront, 105/7 Henry St, Willows, Bloemfontein
Bookings: 073 300 9967 / jazzeveningsbfn@gmail.com
Maputo – Fundação Fernando Leite Couto [Workshop]
Friday 23rd June – 2.30pm
Address: 961 Avenida Kim Il Sung, Maputo
Bookings: +258 84 873 3098 / ginhosibia@gmail.com
Maputo – Fundação Fernando Leite Couto [Performance]
Friday 23rd June – 6.30pm – Mts300
Address: 961 Avenida Kim Il Sung, Maputo
Bookings: +258 84 873 3098 / ginhosibia@gmail.com
Maputo – Jazz Leisure Sessions & Bela Vida [Performance]
Saturday 24th June – 6pm – Mts1000
Address: Bela Vida Village & Shopping, Rua de Mozal, Matola Rio, Barrio Djonasse, Maputo
Bookings: +258 84 873 3098 / ginhosibia@gmail.com
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BIOGRAPHIES
Born in 1986 in Gaborone (Botswana) – where many artists from South Africa, including his father, musician Steve Dyer, were living in exile during apartheid – Bokani Dyer moved back to SA as a child in 1990. He grew up mainly in Johannesburg before moving to study jazz at the prestigious University of Cape Town, where he graduated with distinction.
In 2009 Dyer was runner up in the SAMRO Overseas Scholarship Competition and spent three weeks in New York, where he was tutored by Jason Moran. In 2011, Dyer was awarded the esteemed Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz, placing him in the company of previous winners and visionary artists such as Mark Fransman, Andile Yenana and Kesivan Naidoo.
In 2013, Dyer clinched first prize in the SAMRO Overseas Scholarship Competition. His prize went towards visiting the UK for a lesson with Robert Mitchell, as well as some master classes with Swiss pianist Malcolm Braff in Basel (Switzerland). Dyer embarked on the first European tour with his Swiss-based quintet in 2014, performing at venues across Switzerland, Germany, Czech Republic and the UK. He was spotted by John Cumming and invited to perform at the opening of the London Jazz Festival later that year, with the Swiss Quintet as well as in a tribute to South African super-group The Blue Notes, led by Shabaka Hutchings.
In 2015, the Bokani Dyer Swiss Quintet reunited for a 10-show tour of South Africa and Mozambique, opening the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival and then going on to perform packed shows in King William’s Town, Johannesburg, Maputo and Cape Town. Following on the success of the SA tour, the BDSQ toured Switzerland in October 2015, performing in Basel, Zurich, Bern, Wintethur and Interlaken. In November, Dyer travelled to the UK to collaborate with harmonica player, Adam Glasser, playing various venues around London and keeping the spirit of South African jazz alive.
In April 2016, The Bokani Dyer Trio was selected for and performed at the annual Jazzahead showcase in Bremen (Germany). Other notable activities for 2016 included a collaboration with theatre director Mkhululi Mabija on his production My Daughter/Son, producing saxophonist Sisonke Xonti’s debut album Iyonde, and performing as a soloist at the launch of the SA/Russia Cultural Seasons in Moscow and St Petersburg. Dyer curated a regular slot at The Orbit Jazz Club, the Jazzafrica Legacy Sessions, dedicated to transcribing and performing the works of SA jazz composers from the last decades. He was also honoured to accept an invitation from legendary trumpeter Feya Faku to join his Quintet.
Complementing his career as a jazz artist, Dyer has also explored various other genres and is particularly interested in electronic music. In 2007, Dyer and long-time collaborator vocalist/composer, Sakhile Moleshe (ex-Goldfish) founded groove outfit, Soul Housing Project, which has performed at the Lighthouse Festival in Croatia 2016 and at Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival in Grahamstown (2016).
In 2016, Dyer moved back to Johannesburg and is currently working on various projects with his father, legendary musician Steve Dyer, under the Dyertribe label as well as in a solo capacity. He is composing the score for a new film, directed by top SA comedian Kagiso Lediga, and also for his fourth album, which will feature his trio prominently.
In February 2017, he performed at the Safaricom Jazz Festival in Nairobi, Kenya and is co-directing an exciting collaboration project, Mahube, with artists from various Southern African countries which debuted at the Harare International Festival of the Arts in May.
Romy Brauteseth is a South African bassist. Born in Port Elizabeth in 1989, Brauteseth was surrounded by a musical family and played piano and guitar from an early age. She learnt to play electric bass and read music and played in the Victoria Park High School Big Band. She was chosen for the National Schools Big Band in 2005 and the National Youth Band in 2010. After matriculating, she studied Graphic Design at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University whilst continuing a freelance music career in various bands, collaborations and theatre shows.
Brauteseth moved to Cape Town and found her musical match in the upright bass, which she started playing in 2011. She has become one of SA’s most sought after young bass players and has played with top artists including Melanie Scholtz, Kesivan Naidoo, Mark Fransman, Marcus Wyatt, Feya Faku, Nduduzo Makathini, Dan Shout, Reza Khota, Lee Thomson, Gorm Helfjord, Kevin Gibson, Andrew Lilley, Alvin Dyers, Bokani Dyer and Kyle Shepherd at gigs and festivals across the country, and increasingly internationally. A recent career highlight was playing with Italian pianist Vittorio Mezza on his visit to SA. Brauteseth is now based in Johannesburg and is a permanent member of the Bokani Dyer Trio.
Sphelelo Mazibuko has performed and recorded as a drummer with many accomplished & respected South African artists including singers Dorothy Masuka, Sibongile Khumalo Melanie Scholtz & Lindiwe Maxolo, Metro Jazz album award Winner Nomfundo Xaluva, Jazz reedman Steve Dyer, highly respected Gospel Producer Mthunzi Namba, Gospel sensation Sfiso Ncwane, Standard Bank Young Artist Award recipients: Benjamin Jephta, Bokani Dyer, Shane Cooper & Concord Nkabinde, Bassist & band leader Musa Manzini, Pianist extraordinaire Neil Gonsalves, accomplished Guitar & Jazz Educator Dr Mageshen Naidoo, and the winner of Idols SA, Lloyd Cele as well with ensembles such as the UKZN Big Band & UKZN Jazz Legacy Ensemble.
Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, native Mazibuko was born into a family with generations of musical tradition. He completed his a BA in Music and Media studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2013 and his freelance work has taken him to all corners of South Africa as well as to Virginia in the USA. Some of the events he has performed at include the annual MTN Hazelmere Dam Jazz Festival, Macufe Music Festival, Joy of Jazz, Grahamstown Jazz Festival, Durban Music Festival, Ugu Jazz Festival, Lejweleputswa Festival & the Soweto Theatre Birthday Celebration. He is a permanent member of the Bokani Dyer Trio and also a member of progressive musical trio Africa Plus. Sphelelo is a SonorSA Drums endorsee.
