It has taken me quite a sometime until I managed to write this! Even though as soon as I heard about the devastating sad news about Zim's past I knew I would have to write about it! Came to me as shocking news about Zim specially because he was my friend! Apart from friendship Zim was whom who introduced me to south african jazz and jazz in general!
I met Zim when I was 16 years old in Maputo, Mozambique, through my teacher then, Orlando da Conceicao. Zim was busy presenting a couple of performances in some of Maputo based jazz venues with his duet; just saxophone and electrical guitar with effects. If I recall the repertoire was mostly "avangard". Of course this way of playing was new to me but I still enjoyed the soundscapes created by the duo with no so deep understand of what they were doing! When I think back this was already an advanced form of jazz improvisation. I deeply feel lucky that I experienced that moment as that led me to become a saxophonist and musician. After the [...]
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It is with a lot of pain that I received the information about the loss of a friend and inspiring educator and musician Hotep Galeta. Fortunately I had a pleasurable experience working and performing with Hotep Galeta for Jazzathon festival in 2004 in Cape Town. This participation came from one of many that I have acquired through jam sessions. I met Hotep for the first time at one of monday jam sessions night in Cape Town where I used to be regularly part of the line up with different bands. During our chats Hotep shared some of his musical experience information that he had while living overseas specifically New York "scene". For those who dont know Hotep Galeta was in my opinion one of the important South African piano players, acquired most of his musical experience abroad with musicians such as the late saxophonist Jackie Mclean.
Hotep will truly miss you.
Ivan
Mozambique Music Awards is another step in the Mozambique music industry. This event gives the opportunity to all mozambican musicians to receive merits and recognition in their home country, this including those musicians who perform and live abroad.
We hope for continuity and growth on this program.
Ivan Mazuze
For those of you who are familiar with live music scene in South Africa specifically Cape Town there is no way you could miss the name of Robbie Jansen. For those who don't know or never heard about him, Robbie Jansen was one of the most prominent and important jazz contemporary saxophonist and flautist figures that South Africa had in history of music. Robbie influenced great deal of large number of saxophonist of a generation after him specifically in Cape Town. That is is so evident when listening to some of the up coming saxophonists one could be mistaken by thinking that is actually Robbie playing. This is to say that he has influenced a lot of musicians. His influences stands like Charlie Parker, John Coltrane or Sonny Rollins but in Cape Town. I met Robbie in 2001 during the popular monday night jam sessions back then at "G-Spot" jazz club. I was amazed by his virtuosity both on alto saxophone and flute not to mention his beautiful soul singing on "Georgia on my mind" by Ray Charles. [...]
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My debut album "Maganda" has been nominated for the SAMA awards in the category of BEST CONTEMPORARY JAZZ ALBUM of the year. This I take as recognition of the work done on the album and that I owe my gratitude to my co-producer and friend Andrew Lilley and all the musicians involved on this project, they have indeed make an enormous contribution towards this achievement and to all my supporters "kanimambo" big thanks.
Mazuze