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Bheki Mseleku

Bheki Mseleku - pianist, guitar, saxophonist, vocalist, composer, recording artist The South African jazz scene is proud of its heritage and the musicians tend to integrate that essence into their style. Proper recognition of this fine multi-instrumentalist's talents seemed long in coming, but since 1991 this modest and dignified performer has been touring internationally and releasing several albums with major record labels, as well as appearing on releases from other artists. Bheki Mseleku arrived on the Johannesburg music scene in 1975 as an electric organ player for an R&B outfit, and has over time adapted and grown into one of the world's finest musicians. He is one of a number of supremely talented musicians who left South Africa and its oppressive apartheid system to take up residence in London, leaving South Africa's shores in the late 70's. After extensive touring around Europe and the U.K., his debut performance at Ronnie Scott's in London ('87) saw him teaming up with some of the more prominent figures from London's Jazz revival scene. He became known for riveting performances which include him doubling on the sax while playing the piano. This led to the release of his debut album "Celebration,"(1991) the album was well received and supported with a heavy touring schedule, and received a nomination for British Mercury Music Prize for Album of the Year. After the excitement rescinded, Mseleku resumed his solo performances, accompanying overtly spiritual and dedicatory vocal-lines with gently rocking, township-inspired piano, punctuating the whole with sparkling runs and one-handed riffs on the tenor saxophone. "Meditations"(1992), a live recording from the Bath International Music Festival, captured this absorbing style on two long tracks. Signing to the Verve/PolyGram label at the end of 1993, Mseleku's "Timelessness" found him in the company of some top American heavyweights, including Joe Henderson, Pharoah Sanders, Abbey Lincoln and Elvin Jones. His fourth release "Star Seedings"(1995) and his last release of the decade "Beauty Of Sunrise"(1997) with Polygram, saw Mseleku entering a new era of success. Highly acclaimed, these albums and their respective tours saw Mseleku appealing to a wider audience than ever before. Bheki’s latest offering, "Home At Last," (2003) is a tribute to the spiritual construct that is ‘home.’ To Bheki, a self- confessed ‘Citizen of the World,’ home is not a place as such, but a spiritual construct made up of special people and relationships, those that came along on the long hard road, those that were left behind to be re-visited later.

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Radio & Podcasts

Jazz of the New South Africa, Part 1

Read "Jazz of the New South Africa, Part 1" reviewed by Seton Hawkins


South Africa celebrated its first democratic elections in April 1994, entering a new phase of its history. During that decade, an incredible new array of Jazz artists emerged in the country, exploring Jazz's role in the New South Africa. Playlist Bheki Mseleku “Closer to the Source" from Celebration (World Circuit) 2:03 Paul Hanmer “Meeting of the Women" from Trains to Taung (Sheer Sound) 9:00 Moses Taiwa Molelekwa “Genes and Spirits" from Genes and Spirits (MELT2000) 14:06 McCoy ...

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136

Obituary

Bheki Mseleku: Sa Jazz Pianist Found Fame in Europe

Bheki Mseleku: Sa Jazz Pianist Found Fame in Europe

Source: All About Jazz

The death this week of an accomplished jazz musician has highlighted how South Africans tend to overlook local talent. Friends and family say Bheki Mseleku received greater recognition in Europe and the US than at home. He won awards overseas, but could not get a decent gig at home. He had to return to Europe to continue with his musical career. Durban-born Mseleku - a pianist, guitarist, saxophonist, vocalist and composer - died on Tuesday in London, where he had ...

115

Obituary

Jazz Maestro Bheki Mseleku Dies

Jazz Maestro Bheki Mseleku Dies

Source: All About Jazz

RENOWNED jazz musician Bheki Mseleku has died at the age of 53 after a long battle with diabetes. “He was a supremely talented creative visionary," Arts and Culture Minister Pallo Jordan said. Jordan said the KwaZulu-Natal-born “piano maestro" died in the U K on Monday. Jordan said Mseleku had been living in the UK and seemed to have disappeared from the live- music scene in South Africa. Born in Lamontville, KwaZulu- Natal, Mseleku was from an artistic family, which took ...

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Siya Charles
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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Star Seeding

Verve Records
2003

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Home at Last

Sheer Sound
2003

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Timelessness

Verve Records
1994

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Celebration

Verve Records
1992

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