Artist Profile: Here is someone SA (and the World) is sleeping on…
.jpg)
Having recently been introduced to his body of work, I was left with tears in my eyes and my jaw on the floor at the realization of how South Africa and the world haven't been raving about this multi-instrumentalist and acclaimed producer.
Mpumi
Dhlamini is a Multiple SAMA & SA METRO FM Awards nominee for Best Newcomer
as well as Best Jazz Album (respectively). He has performed and collaborated
with other greats (coz I believe that he is a great talent) likes of Proverb,
Zwai Bala, Jimmy Dludlu and Lira - while producing works for Wanda Baloyi,
Brian Temba, Kabomo, Zama Jobe and Sphelelo Mazibuko, continuing to push the
boundaries of genre-bending and sonic expression in the jazz world.
He has three studio albums
(Combined Elements, 2007; Note to Self, 2018 and Nebula Nomad, 2024 – this
one has been on repeat after Joy of Jazz Festival 2024 by choice). Combined
Elements, being a subsidiary of Sony BMG, and a self-produced debut features a
host of musicians including Fana Zulu (bass), Victor Masondo (guitar and bass),
Carlo Mombelli (fretless bass), Adam Howard (trumpet), Vusi Khumalo (drums) and
Justin Holcroft (tenor, soprano sax). When I tell you that Mpumi plays
accordion, piano, saxophone, the Rhodes keyboard (and more)…he really does. Look…
Mpumi Dhlamini’s Nebula Nomad
is a transcendent blend of rich, layered musical textures that transports me
across continents and genres I thought I knew, or was exposed to. With Imvuselelo
(Re-Imagined) as one of my album's standouts, Mpumi masterfully fuses
African spiritual sounds with global jazz influences and Asian elements,
creating a sonic experience that feels both rooted and expansive. His intricate
use of instruments that combines “yonke into” (everything) - creates a tapestry
that is as complex as it is accessible. Every note feels intentional!
What makes Imvuselelo
(Re-Imagined) so remarkable for me is how Mpumi draws on a variety of musical
traditions. Trust me, his compositions invite audiences into a space where East
meets West, where folk traditions meld effortlessly with swing, blues and
avant-garde jazz. His global vision not only broadens the album’s appeal but
also highlights his ability to make music that speaks universally while
maintaining a unique voice.
0 comments:
Post a Comment