Creator
Gwen Ansell is a freelance writer, writing teacher, media consultant and creative industries researcher. She is the author of various books, including the cultural history ‘Soweto Blues: Jazz, Politics and Popular Music in South Africa’ and the writers’ guide, ‘Introduction to Journalism’.
Rashid Vally gave a voice to the new black jazz of the Seventies — and on a shoestring
Three South African jazz musicians have second albums about to hit the shelves
Saxophone player and traditional healer blows away listeners with the re-release of her album
Two saxophonists have released albums under a fresh initiative driven by a New York label
Although they are full of promises, parties lack concrete, informed policies for the arts
Tutu’s new album, which was 10 years in the making, uses the poetry of Lebo Mashile
Jazz out of the box and plenty more on her new album, which is sung by a trio
The third album from South African-Swiss jazz band Skyjack delights and surprises
The bassist and composer reflects on 40 years in music and his newly released album
Musicians out of Cape Town are making fabulous sounds that have been passed over by reviewers and which AI couldn’t churn out
South African jazz musician Thandi Ntuli draws on her roots in a deep new offering
It was in the 1970s and the decades that followed that the influence of South Africans on the London scene consolidated to create a shared musical language
Malombo shows how musos used their cultural roots to make stunning new sounds
Given the effect of global warming, the future of concerts isn’t speed dating but rather long-term relationships
Rebecca F Kuang explores appropriation, identity and the ownership of stories
Drummer Morabo Morojele’s ‘The Three Egg Dilemma’ is a subtle, subversive, beautiful read
This year’s Womad maximises mingling and learning with smaller clusters of events
In the past, South African jazz marketed overseas was often sold on stereotypes, but there’s been an important and positive shift
The album will take you on journeys, make you joyful enough to dance and maybe nostalgic enough to reach for the tissues
Swiss musician Banz Oester will be visiting South Africa with his quartet The Rainmakers to promote their new album
