Gideon Nxumalo
Gideon "Mgibe" Nxumalo [ nkǁɔˈmalɔ ] (born June 15, 1929 in Kimberley ; † December 24, 1970 ) was a South African jazz musician ( piano , marimba ), who is especially important as a composer . He is considered one of the most important South African musicians of his generation.
Life
Nxumalo, who had a classical music education and graduated from university and also played clarinet, guitar, drums and viola , was initially a musician of swing , who then opened up to newer styles of music. As Mgibe , he had hosted the South African Broadcasting Corporation's This is Bantu Jazz radio show since the early 1950s . Because of his political commitment after the Sharpeville massacre , he lost this position.
In Dorkay House of Johannesburg Nxumalo piano and music theory taught. He was also active as a writer, visual artist and actor. 1958/59 he was a member of Philip Tabane's quartet ; he also performed with Dorothy Masuka and the Manhattan Brothers . With his own ensemble he recorded two jazz records; In their "compositions he succeeded in bringing together the most varied of musical styles: from swing and big band elements to indigenous African rhythms".
Nxumalo also wrote a string quartet, works for chamber orchestra, theater music and the musical Sponono , which was performed on Broadway in 1964 . His music was used (as well as that of Max Roach ) for the setting of the film Dilemma (1962) by Henning Carlsen, which was secretly recorded in South Africa during the apartheid regime .
His suite “Jazz Fantasia” has been repeatedly performed on international tours by the South African youth orchestra Miagi and the federal jazz orchestra / federal youth orchestra .
Discographic notes
- Jazz Fantasia with Kippie Moeketsi , Dudu Pukwana , Martin Mgjima, Makaya Ntshoko (1962)
- Gideon Plays with Mackay Davashe , Denny Nene, Gordon Mjandu, Maurice Nto Mgudlwa (1968)
literature
- Gwen Ansell: Soweto Blues: Jazz, Popular Music, and Politics in South Africa. Continuum, 2005, ISBN 978-0-8264-1753-4
Web links
- Biographical portrait
- Entry in the South African Audio Archive
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Jazz Fantasies from South Africa (Goethe-Institut)
- ↑ Entry Broadway Information
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Nxumalo, Gideon |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Mgibe (nickname) |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | South African jazz musician, composer and presenter |
| DATE OF BIRTH | June 15, 1929 |
| PLACE OF BIRTH | Kimberley (South Africa) |
| DATE OF DEATH | December 24, 1970 |