AMANDLA FREEDOM ENSEMBLE PRESENTS - BORN TO BE BLACK: A IN SOUTH AFRICA

Born To Be Black is intended to be a proclamative journey of musical meditation and healing. A journey into the less travelled. Musical territories where sonic realms are constantly in flux. Ours is a canvas of our imagination where our colours are hues of an ascending melodic line or the crescendo of boisterous horns grooving to the syncopated rhythms of a new song. The assemblage of such diverse musicianship will attract a wide patronage of artists and aficionados. Born to Be Black is the culmination of an endeavour to bring a journey of musical fireworks from an intergenerational dialogue between the intense piano improvisations of Andile Yenana and the extraordinary dynamic range of South African percussionists Louis Moholo Moholo, who played a pivotal role in the influential community of South African exiles who transformed the evolution of British jazz from the 60’s and revered American jazz firebrand saxophonist and educator Prof. Salim Washington. All three figures remain massive figures in the South African music landscape – this progressive collaboration of masters is also paired with the audacious and far-reaching musical musings of the Amandla Freedom Ensemble led by young trumpeter Mandla Mlangeni. Veteran South African drummer Louis Tebogo Moholo Moholo returned to his homeland in 2005 and will be revisiting the anthemic and freewheeling improvisations that will be delivered during September (Heritage Month) by an exceptional assemblage of young and old at sought after performance venues in South Africa and abroad. Born To Be Black: A Celebration of The Conscious Soul is supported by The Arts & Culture Trust and Nedbank Arts Affinity and an ANT Funding Grant from Pro Helvetia Johannesburg financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). We invite you to join the journey of a unique musical offering between the Amandla Freedom Ensemble, Louis Moholo, Salim Washington and Andile Yenana presented at the Saturday 17 September 19:00 Steve Biko Centre Ginsburg King Williamstown R100 Sunday 18 September 16:00 Stirling High School Auditorium East London R100 Tuesday 20 September 19:00 Guga’ SthebeLanga featuring Paul van Kemenade (Netherlands) Three Horns And A Bass R100 Friday 23 September 20:00 Slave Church Long St Cape Town R100 The Amandla Freedom Ensemble have in recent years positioned themselves as a musical tour de force with an original cultural identity and agenda of creating new music that speaks to both young and old. Described by the Jazz Times (USA) as an “urban arts ensemble which wraps elliptical melodies in three-part harmonies, rich with impasto, swinging like broken chandeliers.” The Amandla Freedom Ensemble is steadily capturing the attention of many jazz patrons and new audiences wherever it performs. Born To Be Black draws on an exciting and vibrant group of musicians with an appetite for different genres in a setting primed for all kinds of audiences. Featured Soloists: Louis Moholo (drums) AndileYenana (piano), Prof. Salim Washington (bass clarinet, flute and oboe) For media queries, media accreditation, interview request, access to high res pictures etc, please contact JT Comms on media@jtcomms.co.za or 011 788 7632 Issued by JT Communication Solutions on behalf of Amandla Freedom Ensemble