The Hamburg Jazz Band

The Hamburg Jazz Band was founded in 2021 by Qhama Nongce, Yoliswa Gusha, and Mkhululi Peter, and emerged from the halls of Keiskamma Music Academy, where the trio served as interns teaching music. Located in Hamburg Town, Peddie, Eastern Cape, the band is composed of young, passionate musicians dedicated to South African Jazz.

The band's members boast a diverse musical background, encompassing classical music, African rhythms, pop, and jazz. Their versatility and talent have seen them perform on various prestigious platforms, sharing stages with renowned artists like Dumza Maswana and Msaki, among others.

In a village where opportunities for growth and personal development are scarce, the Hamburg Jazz Band stands as a beacon of discipline, hope, and opportunity. It is well-loved by the community for its unique sound and commitment to fostering local talent.

Today, the band has grown to include 15 members hailing from Hamburg, East London, Umzimkhulu (KZN), and Makhanda. This ensemble includes both teachers and students who perform alongside the founding members at various events, showcasing a blend of experience and youthful energy.

Sive Sontshaka and the Tribute Jazz Band

Sive Sontshaka was born in the Eastern Cape, in the small town of Cofimvaba. He grew up in a rural area where trumpeting was rocket science. As a young boy, growing up with the innate love of music inside him, his environment was a stumbling block. This led to his relocation to Johannesburg where he went for academic schooling but the love of music took root.

He joined a music school called The Orchestra Company under John Davies for two years. Sadly, he had to leave the school as he could not afford the fees. This led him to join the Melody Music School under Nimrod Moloto. Here, he became part of the wind ensemble that was playing classical music. He began teaching trumpet to students who came to the school.

His trumpet teacher, Peter Griffiths offered him a chance to teach trumpet at the school he was heading at the time. "This was the most exciting time in my life, I even got the opportunity to play with the Johannesburg Symphony Orchestra."

He has travelled the country playing at musical festivals including The Wine Festival, The Bike Festival, Rino Rilley Festival, and the Concerto Festival. After the Melody Music school, he joined the Johannesburg Orchestra but they soon ran out of funds to pay musicians and that led to his departure from the group.

He left the city for home again where he met Queenstown’s finest double bass player, Mr Mlungisi Gegana who was now running his own school in Queenstown. Sive joined the Mlungisi Music Academy and started teaching music and performing music around his home province.

THE BAND
Later on, a collection of jazz musicians who live around Queenstown came together to form The Tribute Jazz Band. The band consists of four members, namely Sive Sontshaka on trumpet, Anthony Abrahams on piano, Thabang Patu on bass and Elmaine Christoffels on drums. All these musicians were part of the Chris Hani Jazz Festival in 2022 and 2023.

The synergy this group of musicians bring to the covers they play has encouraged a love of jazz in the CHMD populace. With new ideas on the arrangement of songs, they have taken the familiar and made them new again. To anyone listening to them, their knowledge of music is apparent in their style of play. This Quintet is a wonder to see live and a perfect fit to any live music scene as they have not underperformed before.

USIVE SONTSHAKA neTHE TRIBUTE JAZZ BAND

USive Sontshaka wazalelwa eMpuma Koloni, kwidolophu encinci ebizwa ngokuba yiCofimvaba. Wayesakuba ngumfundi weThe Orchestra Company phantsi kwesandla sikaJohn Davies iminyaka emibini. Kamva waba ngumfundisi-ntsapho womculo ngethuba edlala kwiminyhadala yomculo efana neThe Wine Festival, iThe Bike Festival, iRino Rilley Festival, iConcerto Festival ukukhankanya ezimbalwa.

Uthe xa uSive ebuyela kwidolophu yakowabo wadibana nezinye iimvumi zeJazz ezihlala kufutshane neQueenstown benza iTibrute Jazz Band elalimele isithili saseChris Hani. Eli qela linamalungu amane, uSive Sontshaka odlala ixilongo, uAnthony Abrahams ongumdlali wepiyano, uThabang Patu odlala ibhess kunye noElmaine Christoffels ongumdlali wegubu. Zonke ezi mvumi beziyinxalenye yeChris Hani Jazz Festival ngo-2022 nango-2023. Eli qela lilungiselela iingoma iingoma zezinye (i)imvumi zibe ezitsha kodwa zibenesandi esiqhelekileyo. Intsebenziswano yabo ibangela ukuba abaphulaphuli bathande umculo wejazz. Eli qela lemvumi ezine liyamangalisa ukubona lidlala ubuso ngobuso kwaye lifaneleka ngokugqibeleleyo kuyo nayiphi na indawo yomculo wobuso ngobuso. Udumo lwabo oluhle kunye nesandi esikhethekileyo sihamba phambi kwabo.

Phinda Mtya-Matlala

Phinda Mtya-Matlala, born in 1967 in Gqeberha, South Africa, is an afro-jazz singer, producer, composer, writer, and actress. She fuses gospel, afro-pop, and blues in her music. Born into a musical family, she was influenced by her grandmother, mother, and brother. Matlala's voice has been her constant, from singing on tables with a spoon as her microphone at five to flying the South African flag on international stages at 20. In 1997, she joined the group Mahube, featuring Oliver Mtukudzi and Steve Dyer, becoming a successful and creative female artist. She has toured Europe and other countries, expanding her craft and learning new things.

Phinda gained fame in 2000 with her leading role in The Lion King and co-wrote the soundtrack for the film. In 2002, she and her group Mahube produced a world debt alleviation album for Africa. In 2005, she co-wrote and sang on the soundtrack for TSOTSI. Matlala performed at the Oprah Winfrey New Year's Eve bash and released her first album, Yithi Paha, in 2006 which she won a SAMA award in 2007. Her second 2008 album, Mpheka Phesheya, also got SAMA, SATMA, ECMA, and SAAFMA award nominations. Matlala's third album, Heaven Can Wait, gained her a new following and was released under her label, MATLALA MUSIC. She has recently released a fourth album, KGOLOKO, as she continues to showcase her potential in the music world.

UPhinda Mtya-Matlala, owazalwa ngo-1967 eGqeberha, eMzantsi Afrika, yimvumi ye-afro-jazz, umvelisi, umqambi, umbhali, nomdlali weqonga. Udibanisa umculo wevangeli, i-afro-pop, kunye ne-blues kumculo wakhe. Wazalelwa kusapho oluthanda umculo, waphenjelelwa ngumakhulu nomama wakhe kunye nomntakwabo. UMatlala kudala wanelizwi, ukusuka ekuculeni ezitafileni esebenzisa icephe njengomboko enemiyaka eli-5 ukuya ekuphakamiseni uMzantsi Afrika kumaqonga ezizwe ngezizwe eneminyaka engama-20. Ngo-1997, wazibandakanya neqela iMahube, ekunye no-Oliver Mtukudzi kunye noSteve Dyer, waba ligcisa eliphumeleleyo nelinobuchule elibhinqileyo. Ukhenketha iYurophu namanye amazwe, esandisa ubugcisa bakhe kwaye ekufunda izinto ezintsha.

UPhinda wafumana udumo ngo-2000 ngendima yakhe ephambili kwiThe Lion King waza wabhala kunye nengoma yale filimu.  Ngo-2002, yena neqela lakhe i-Mahube, basebenzisana noBono ukuvelisa icwecwe lokucutha amatyala ehlabathi eAfrika. Ngo-2005, wancedisa ukubhala ingoma yefilimu ekuthwa ngu-TSOTSI waza wayicula. UMatlala wacula kumsitho ka-Oprah Winfrey ngaphambi kweNyibiDyala ngo-2006 kwaye wakhupha icwecwe lakhe lokuqala elithi, Yithi Phaha, awafumana imbasa ye-SAMA ngalo ngo-2007. Icwecwe lakhe lesibini lika-2008 elithi, Mpheka Phesheya, nalo lachongwa ukufumana iimbasa ze-SAMA, iSATMA, iECMA, kunye ne-SAAFMA. Icwecwe lesithathu likaMatlala elithi, Heaven Can Wait, lamzuzisa abalandeli abatsha kwaye lakhululwa (lapaphahwa) phantsi kwenkampani yakhe, iMATLALA MUSIC. Usanda kukhupha icwecwe lesine elithi, KGOLOKO, nanjengoko eqhubeka nokubonisa isakhono sakhe kumculo.