THE ANGLICAN CHURCH OF ST JOHN THE BAPTIST, PINETOWN

JAZZ AT ST JOHN’S

ATTENTION ALL JAZZ LOVERS!!  You have a real treat to look forward to on Friday 7 August - 18:30 in the church hall.  The well- known South African jazz guitarist, Bheki Khoza (left) will be performing in our church hall, together with other jazz musicians, and a guest appearance by our own Christopher Cockburn.

Self-taught, left-handed Bheki Khoza is known in two circles: playing guitar in the ancient Zulu tradition known as Maskaada, and as a jazz artist.

Bheki was born and raised in Umlazi, Durban.  In 1991 he received a Talent Award and scholarship to study music in America.  He returned in 1995 from studying at the University of Hartford, Connecticut with the great Jackie McLean, one of the few living legends of music.

While in America, Bheki was resident with Larry Ridley’s jazz legacy, playing the whole spectrum of African American music.  The band was headed by Larry Ridley himself, who played with Wes Montgomery, Sonny Rollin, Miles Davies, Horace Silver, Kenny Burrell, George Benson, Dexter Gordon and far too many other great musicians to mention.  By the time Bheki left America he was already making a name for himself playing at clubs like Blue Note, Saint Mark’s, Zinno’s and Smalls, a famous club often referred to as :The Mecca of Jazz”, which has jam sessions every night to all hours.  Khoza also played at the famous Shamberg auditorium in Harlem.

Now living in Johannesburg, Bheki is an arranger and educator as well as a recording artist.  He has acted as both arranger and musical director on two movies: Drum and Sophiatown.  He has made several CD’s, some with a gospel theme.

Another performer of note who will be appearing at the Jazz Evening is Christopher Cockburn (right).  Apart from being a very talented organist, choir master and composer, Christopher has a keen interest in a jazz, and we look forward to hearing him in a different mode from Sunday services!  Christopher is a lecturer in Music at the University of KwaZulu Natal.   He has performed as organist and choral conductor in all the major centres in South Africa, and is a regular at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown.  He has recently acquired a PhD – his thesis was entitled ‘The Establishment of a Musical Tradition: Meaning, Value and Social Process in the South African History of Handel’s Messiah’.

With talent like this, no-one will want to miss this very special evening’s entertainment.  Get your tickets from the parish office (tel. 031 7020712, 08:00 – 13:00) before they are sold out.  Cost is R100 (or R75 for pensioners) : a meal is included and there will be a cash bar.  Tell your friends – this is something they will not want to miss!!