Untitled - Bheki Khoza

BHEKI
KHOZA
Phone +27 71492 0605
Adress 93 North Avenue, Bez Valley,
2094
E-mail [email protected]
Webwww.soundsofyah.com
Personal
Bhekisisa Khosa is the well-known left
handed guitarist from Umlazi, Durban,
South Africa. In 19 91 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 McClean, on of the few living legends.
son, Dexter Gordon and far too many
other musicians great to mention. By the
time Bheki left America he was already
making a name for himself playing clubs
like Blue Note, Saint Mark’s Zinno’s and
Smalls, a famous club often referred to
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 Burell, George Ben-
as: The Mecca of Jazz” which has jam
sessions every night to all hours. Khoza
also played at the famous Shamberg auditorium in Harlem.
Some of the musicians he held the opportunity to play with included Kenny
Barron, Hilton Ruiz, Kirk Ligtsey, Cecil
McBee, Virgil Jones, Charlces Davis and
Steve Davis, who now Anarchy, a jam
club for African music, in particular. Gigs
stemming from the African connection
included backing vocalist Floxy Bee from
Nigeria and Thuli Dumakude, a singer
from South Africa, of Mabatha Fame.
Prior to studying in America, Bheki played
with the African Jazz Pioneers, Abie Cindi, Sipho Gumede, Winston Mankunku
Ngozi, Rene McClean, Victor Ntoni, Mike
Makhalemala, George Lee, and Berry Rachabane, among others. He also backed
South Africa’s famous songbirds, Sibongile Khumalo, Sophic Mgina, Dolly
Rathebe, Abigail Kubheka, and Themi
Mtshani. During this time Bheki also had
his own band Thayima, which played jazz
and African music directly addressing
the social conditions of the late 1980’s
for this reason the band was never recorded.
Bheki musical influence are many. His
grandmother played Jewish harp and
harmonica, and enriched him with tradition of Zulu music which he then found
in Phuz Shukela, Kati Elimnyama and
Ngane Ziyamfiva. He was also influenced
by people at wedding, funerals, in the
street and shebeens. Other influences
include Philip Thabane, Alan Kwela, Abdulah American Influences-Wes Montogomery, Barney Kessel, Kenny Burrell,
Joe Pass, George Benson and Charlie
Parker in later which Bheki also picked
up.
During his early years in Durban, Bheki
learnt to play solo due to the lack of full
time musicians to accompany him. In
spite of this, he has wide experience and
interest in small group and big band music alike.
Bheki recorded an album entitles “Asambe” in 1995, which is often aired on Radio Metro and Safm. The album is comprised of original compositions, some of
which used to be Shonilanga. Bheki also
composed the African Jazz Pioneers hit
“Sgaxa Mabhande”.
His recordings include guitar for Mike
Makhalemela’s last “Searching”. Bheki
was musical director Sophiatown Documentary, released in July 2003.
Bheki is musical director for the South African film production of “Drum”, a fictional
account of the razing of Sophiatown. The
film features a high profile international
cast, a wide variety new musical production selections which defined the Sophiatown sound, and many of the surviving
musicians who played in the bands of
the time. The film is schedule for world
premiere in the Spring of 2004.
Bheki is currently heading his own quarlet which focuses on his many original
compositions, featuring drums, piano,
bass, and guitar. He has released his debut album “Getting to Heaven Alive” end
of 2006.
Teaching Exp.
Damelin College
Central Johannesburg College
Alexandra Music Project (Visiting Professor)
University of Natal, Durban
Funda Art Centre, Alexandra, Johannesburg
Alexandra Art Centre
Private Teacher
Wits University
Dorkay House
2004
1998
1998
1991
1987
1987
1987
1988
1988
Summary CV
Songs of Life
2014
Bheki Khoza, soon to be released
Chimurenga
2013
Recorded and produced
Songs and Stories of Africa
2008
Gcina Mhlophe, SAMA best childrens ulbum, PANSALB award
Yashi’nkani
2007
Bongani Nkwanyana, recorded and produced
Ubuntu Barm
2007
Siphokazi
Love Movement on Bantu Biko Street
2006
Simphiwe Danna, recorded and produced, won 4 SAMA awards
Getting to Heaven Alive
2006
Bheki Khoza, SAMA Award best instrumental jazz album
Five Loaves and Two Fish
2004
Nana Magagula
Zabalaza
2004
Thandiswa Mazwai
Drum: Stories of Sophiatown
2003
Feature Film, music director
Sophiatown
2002
Documentary, music director
Wemntomnyama
2001
Suthukazi Arosi
Africa Gold
Morris Goldberg
1998
Asambe
Bheki Khoza
Searching
Mike Makhalemela
Ghost and the Darkness
Soundtrack
Inyakanya
Tu Nokwe
The Moon Knows
Steve Davis Ensemble
In African Eyes
Rene McClean Quinlet
Eyes on Tomorrow
Miriam Makeba
Hand Around the Heart
Jenifer Ferguson
The Storyteller
1996
1996
1995
1995
1995
1992
1991
1991
1991
David Hewitt
Friendly Basses
Bakithi Khumalo
Lakutshon’ Ilanga
1989
1989
Musical Play
Stimela Sase Zola
Mbongeni Ngema
Casa Conference
African Jazz Pioneers
Peace
Peace (Spho Gumede)
1987
1986
1984
SKILLS
Guitar/
Bass Guitar
Piano/
Keyboard
Producer
Composer
Music
Teacher
Languages:
English
Zulu
Hebrew
Phone +27 71492 0605
Adress 93 North Avenue, Bez Valley, 2094
E-mail [email protected]
Web www.soundsofyah.com