Herbie Tsoaeli is one of South Africa’s most respected and sought-after bassists, composers, and arrangers. He has a long and illustrious career in jazz, working with local and international legends such as Abdullah Ibrahim, Bheki Mseleku, Winston Mankunku Ngozi, Zim Ngqawana, and Hugh Masekela.
Herbie Tsoaeli will be performing at the 2023 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, Africa’s premier jazz festival, which will take place on September 29 and 30 at the Sandton International Convention Centre. He will be presenting a special project in tribute to the late Johnny Mbizo Dyani, a South African vocalist and pianist who was a pioneer of free jazz and world music.
He will be joined by other talented bassists, Viwe Mkizwana and Dalusi Ndlazi, as well as vocalist Titi Lozipho, who will pay tribute to Gloria Bosman, another South African singer and composer who passed away recently. He will also honour other jazz masters who came before him, such as Dr Bheki Mseleku and Ntate Winston Mankunku.
Herbie Tsoaeli’s passion and creativity
Herbie Tsoaeli spoke to TshisaLIVE about his upcoming show and his love for jazz. He said that he was honoured to be invited by the festival organisers, Peter Tladi and Montoa, who recognised his contribution to the jazz scene. He said that he was not often featured in other jazz festivals in the country, but he was glad to be part of this one.
He said that he did not know what to expect from his performance, but he hoped that it would heal and inspire the audience as it healed him. He said that he wanted to share his passion and creativity with the people who appreciate jazz. He said that jazz was a statement of power and human creativity, with boundless opportunities for artistic expression.
He said: “People must just come because I will be paying tribute to the masters that came before us bo Ntate Johnny, Dr Bheki Mseleku and Ntate Winston Mankunku. That’s the kind of programme I’ve been working on for years to pay my homage to these great statesmen of this country. There is greatness in SA in all spheres we have Biko, all these great writers. So it interconnects with all of that, the music should take you to those levels when music is played.”
Other international and local artists at the festival
Herbie Tsoaeli will be sharing the stage with other international and local artists at the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz festival. Some of the headliners include Swiss harpist Andreas Vollenweider, US pianist Robert Glasper, saxophonist Alexander Beets’ Quintet, guitarist Billy Monama, The Hugh Masekela Band, vocalist Zoe Modiga, bassist Carlo Mombelli, reedman McCoy Mrubata and Brasskap, pianist Nduduzo Makhathini Trio with Cuban drummer Francisco Mela.
The festival will feature four stages: Dinaledi, Conga, Mbira, and Bassline. Each stage will showcase different styles and genres of jazz music, from swing to fusion, from standards to originals. The festival will also offer various events and activities for jazz lovers, such as workshops, masterclasses, exhibitions, panel discussions, and more.
You can buy tickets for the festival online or at selected outlets. You can also watch some of the performances live on YouTube or Facebook. For more information about the festival program, tickets, venues, artists, and sponsors, you can visit the official websiteor follow the social media pages .