“It’s always collaborative,” Nduduzo Makhathini stated. “As the bandleader, you carry the intention of the music, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re controlling the music.”
Joined by bandmates Zwelakhe Duma Bell le Pere on bass and drummer Kabelo Boy Mokhatla, the trio will deliver their latest songs at The Cedar in the middle of the week on May 13th.
The bandleader of this jazz trio, Makhathini creates his sound on keyboard and vocals. He spent time with Mshale recently offering his thoughts on music, memories, shared trauma, and family, one not leading to the next, but at times salvaging the the remnants, providing a place holder, a container, for the experiences.
“When I bring the music, I don’t entirely think of myself as the composer—“ Makhathini said modestly, “—of course, that’s the correct language that is used by society, but I think I’m just someone with some kind of ability to cite things that are happening elsewhere. I’m constantly trying to be aware of another world. So I’m gonna be presenting my ancestors, I’m gonna be presenting my lineage,” the South African musician said in an effort to elaborate on his artistry.
“Once everyone understands the intentions in the sound, then we can go all kinds of different directions. It’s an open itinerary, there is no obsession to reaching a particular place. It goes all kinds of different directions, then we check in with each other and it goes again.”
At 43, Makhathini knows where he’s going, knows where he’s been, but he’s also curious to find out where he might be headed musically that he didn’t anticipate. He’s a book that’s still writing itself.
“In the concert, I’m always trying to consult with silence. It’s like sounds in their orientation are always looking forward to dissolving into the mother sound, which is silence,” said Makhathini.
“So while we put so much energy playing sounds, we don’t mind if these sounds get absorbed into silence. The music in itself is producing these metaphors for surrender, for emptiness.
“Sometimes, we need to let [our preconceptions] go. It’s in the language of emptiness, maybe that’s what we need. So the music is about [finding the emptiness].”
Don’t expect to find many empty seats at The Cedar. His show at the Dakota nearly sold out a couple years ago. Now he has a new album out co-produced with his son, Thingo Makhathini, The Myth We Choose, Blue Note records.
“I’m very excited that he’s produced my new record and composed some music for it. It’s grappling with the whole notion of fatherhood and stereotypes. I try to bring him to the music for us to think about what does it mean for us to have this relationship of father and son.”
Tickets for Nduduzo Makhathini’s show at the Cedar Cultural Center available here.
May 13th at 7:30 pm – 10:30 pm.
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About Susan Budig
Susan is based in Minneapolis and reports on general assignments for Mshale with a focus on entertainment. In addition to reporting, she is also a writer, poet, teacher and coach.
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