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Quartet: The group creates music that feels both grounded and exploratory. Photo: Supplied

Diary: A Million O Clock Live at the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music, Vumaala releases Show Me and Live Music Lab 2026 calls for entries

Your essential dose of art and culture

On the count of three: The Kyle Shepherd Trio on stage (left to right), Shepherd, Shane Cooper and Jonno Sweetman. (Supplied)

The Kyle Shepherd Trio: A jazz dance sweetly played

Kyle Shepherd Trio’s new album is packed with originals, covers, homages – and a guilty pleasure

In full flight: Light Cycle, the new album from jazz outfit Skyjack, who have been together for a decade, is due out this month. Photo: Lindsay Appolis

Skyjack: When ideation meets instinct

The third album from South African-Swiss jazz band Skyjack delights and surprises

Standby: An album of unreleased music by the late Jamaican reggae musician Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry is due out soon. (Paul Bergen/Redferns)

Starting the year on the right note

Setting my musical intentions for 2024, I select four upcoming albums that made my heart race

Considered: The Covid-19 lockdowns gave Thandi Ntuli (above) time to reflect on her music – and self-reflect – using yoga as a way to achieve this.

A new wave of jazz is blowing through Mzansi

Nduduzo Makhathini’s release of his 10th studio album, In The Spirit of Ntu, is part of the ever evolving sound that is South African jazz. But what is the sound of the genre’s…

ShaneCooper & MABUTA- By AidanTobias

Open your eyes to Finish The Sun

Mabuta’s second album is a colourful sonic experience, inspired by the sounds of Africa.

Queer activist and filmmaker Bev Ditsie provides compelling reflections in the film (Supplied)

Review: ‘A New Country’ portrays the lingering aftertaste of a bittersweet freedom

Taking its cues from the dimming of the hope suggested by rainbowism, ‘A New Country’ attempts to articulate the depths of betrayal South Africans feel

In her third album, Thandi Ntuli sings, recites and writes parts for a 14-member ensemble (Palma Fiacco)

Review: Thandi Ntuli’s double consciousness on ‘Live at Jazzwerkstatt’

Thandi Ntuli’s new album, ‘Live at Jazzwerkstatt’, is a radiant turn, with dark a darker meta-narrative

Shane Cooper’s approach to music and formation of Mabura has been coloured by his involvement with several groups (David Harrison)

Shane Cooper’s infinite paths through rhythm

Shane Cooper’s approach to music and formation of Mabura has been coloured by his involvement with several groups (David Harrison)

Blended vessel: Spha Mdlalose says being boxed into a genre makes her nervous; she describes her debut album Indlel’eyekhaya as a display of all her influences. (Delwyn Verasamy/ M&G)

Spha Mdlalose finds her way home

The musician’s debut album, ‘Indlel’eyekhaya’, defies genres in its blend of jazz, gospel and R&B

(Isabel Janssen)
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Mabuta prepare another kind of jazz for a global stage

The title of Mabuta’s debut album, Welcome to This World, has always seemed like a clear invitation to enter a dream state. (Isabel Janssen)

Cultural ambassador: Ndabo Zulu has been working with both South African and Norwegian musicians, which has helped him to navigate different traditions. (Siphiwe Mhlambi)

Ndabo Zulu hails the queen

While trumpeter Ndabo Zulu was studying at the Norwegian Academy of Music (from 2017 to 2019) and building on the idea that would become his opus, Queen Nandi The African…

‘The Space Between’ a portrait of Sakhile Moleshe. (Delwyn Verasamy/M&G)

Moleshe answers ‘Final Call’

The jazz musician has always been a visionary and a team player. He is now launching his solo debut

The strengthening of the rand could also see consumers make savings from a petrol price cut

Cooper traverses dreams with new band, Mabuta

"Expressing his exhaustion with reinterpretations and enactments of American jazz culture, Mabuta merges the old with the new"

​Strong musical chemistry unites Skyjack’s kindred spirits from different backgrounds

​Strong musical chemistry unites Skyjack’s kindred spirits from different backgrounds

The new musical offering from Skyjack seamlessly weaves individual talents together.

Jazz supergroup lights up the scene

Kesivan and the Lights’ ­new ­album is a ­signature ­moment in the history of South African jazz.

Kyle Shepherd trio brews a musical storm

Following Kyle Shepherd winning the Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year, his performance with his band showed off his unwavering talent.