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Artist
Nduduzo Makhathini
12+ albums
jazzpianosouth africacontemporary jazzvocal jazz
about
Nduduzo Makhathini (born in uMgungundlovu, Pietermaritzburg on 24 September 1982) is a South African jazz musician. He was the recipient of the 2015 Standard Bank Young Artist Award in the category of Jazz, and at the 2017 All Africa Music Awards he won the Best Jazz Artist award. Makhathini plays with a bright lyricism and a full sound pallet that gives him a markedly wide melodic vocabulary. His music shares a comparative searching sensibility along with a keen spiritual focus like the music of the late jazz pianist, Bheki Mseleku. Makhathini has toured extensively, having performed with Zim Ngqawana, Simphiwe Dana, Feya Faku, and McCoy Mrubata. He has also recorded with other strongly rooted titans such as Busi Mhlongo, Carlo Mombelli, Salim Washington and Herbie Tsaoeli. Makhathini was born and raised in uMgungundlovu in South Africa’s Kwa-Zulu Province. The area enjoys a convergence of a heritage of ritual practice and music. It’s important to note that the area’s Zulu warrior code deeply relies on music for motivation and healing. This twin heritage of music and spirituality is central to understanding Makhathini’s musical project and vision. Coming from a musical family, Makhathini’s love for music began at an early age. His late father, Sibusiso was a singing guitarist. It was in one of Sibusiso’s isicathamiya outfits that young Makhathini got his first taste of life as a musician; along with the piano lessons and mentorship from his mother, Nomajerusalema. She
