Zim Ngqawana(25 December 1959 – 10 May 2011) first made his mark at the historic inauguration of President Nelson Mandela in 1994, where he directed the 100 person ‘Drums for Peace Orchestra’, led an elite group of 12 Presidential drummers and featured as a solo saxophonist.
This recognition came after a late start and some tough struggles. Born in 1959 in Port Elizabeth (in South Africa’s Eastern Cape), Zim was the youngest of five children and started playing flute at the age of 21. Although Zim was forced to drop out of school before completing university entrance requirements, his prowess won him a place at Rhodes University. He later went on to study for a diploma in Jazz Studies at the University of Natal. Working with the University’s ensemble, ‘The Jazzanians’, he attended the International Association of Jazz Educators convention
in the United States and was offered scholarships to the Max Roach / Wynton Marsalis jazz workshop and subsequently a Max Roach scholarship to the University of Massachusetts, where he studied with jazz legends Archie Shepp and Yusef Lateef.
Since his return to South Africa in the 1990’s he has worked in the bands of veteran greats like Abdullah Ibrahim and Hugh Masekela. He has also devoted much time and effort into building up a number of small and large combos from the conventional quartet / quintet including his 8 piece band ‘Ingoma’ through to the ‘Drums for Peace Orchestra’. Zim is committed to developing and creating an audience for new South African jazz. His music draws on influences ranging from South Africa’s folk and rural traditions to Indian and western classical music, world music and the avant-garde. Grounded in his South African roots, the music is strongly percussive, improvisational and highly danceable.
Alongside numerous major festival appearances in South Africa, in 1993 he appeared as the guest artist with Paul Van Kemenade and his ensemble, at the Tilburg Festival in front of a large and enthusiastic Dutch audience. In 1995 he toured the United States with his band ‘Ingoma’ and appeared at the historic Black History Week in Chicago. Zim has toured America, Africa, Israel and Europe and has played with greats including Max Roach, Keith Tippett, Dennis Mpale, Andile Yenana, Herbie Tsoaeli, Kevin Gibson, Valerie Naranjo, Bjorn Ole Solburg and his Norweigan San Ensemble to name a few.
“San Song” was released by Sheer Sound in South Africa 1997, to critical acclaim. Licensed from NOR-CD and recorded in Norway, the album comprises original compositions by Zim Ngqawana and Bjorn Ole Solberg. The music is deeply rooted in the folk based jazz traditions of Norway and South Africa. ‘San Song’ features South Africans Zim Ngqawana, Andile Yenana and Norwegians Bjorn Ole Solberg, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten and Paal Nilssen-Love.
“Zimology”, the first solo release by Zim, illustrates his uncanny ability as a musician, composer and fine saxophonist. Recorded in Norway along with two of the original members of San and Zim’s long time pianist Andile Yenana, ‘Zimology’ once again established him as the undoubted king of South African avant-garde jazz music, a genre that he has embraced whole heartedly, unlike numerous of his contemporaries. The album is dedicated to a number of his influences including Yusef Latef, Archie Shepp and Pharaoh Sanders whom he studied and played with while on a Wynston Marsalis scholarship at the Max Roach Institute of Jazz in Massachusetts. He also pays tribute to local jazz legend Mongezi Feza (Blue Notes and Brotherhood of Breath) with the track “You Think You Know Me”.
“Zimology” incorporates many influences from traditional Xhosa rhythms and songs to the more ‘way out’ form of jazz expressionism.
Zim released his second solo project “The Zimphonic Suites” in 2001. Few knew that this recording would produce such a definitive artist album. Following in the footsteps of “Zimology” the reedman manages to fuse the ancient rhythms and songs of Africa with his interpretations of modern jazz music.
The album moves beyond jazz and deals with expression only, as it is supposed to serve a broader purpose by suggesting jazz, classical and other western forms before departing from them.
“Zimphonic Suites” was nominated for an impressive 5 South African Music Awards, the most nominations received by any artist ever for this major awards ceremony. He managed to scoop three awards out of the five nominations including the very prestigious “Best Male Artist”.
Zim Ngqawana’s latest album “Vadzimu” has caused a stir with lovers of good music worldwide. In the words of www.allboutjazz.com – “Vadzimu is a masterpiece!”
In his inimitable style, Zim has produced an album that will remind fans of his legendary prowess as a musician and a producer, and will be sure to draw legions of new followers. Featured guests include Andile Yenana (piano), Marcus Wyatt (trumpet & flugelhorn), Lulu Gontsana and Kesivan Naidoo (drums).
“Vadzimu” is a concept album divided into various sections. The first section of the album “Satire” is a tribute to our own South African heritage and it is expressed in track 3 ‘Gumboot Dance, which conjures up images of our mineworkers.
Zim has reworked Abdullah Ibrahim’s song Tafelberg, and has renamed it Tafelberg / Carnival Samba. He also re-arranged the South African national anthem Nkosi Sikeleli Afrika. The last section “Nocturnes” is a collection of piano pieces played by Zim himself.
“Vadzimu” managed to secure Zim two further SAMA awards and an amazing amount of critical acclaim, scooping the very prestigious “Best Male Artist” as well as “Best Jazz Album” categories that year, no small feat in a country where jazz is a popular and hotly contested music form!
This recognition came after a late start and some tough struggles. Born in 1959 in Port Elizabeth (in South Africa’s Eastern Cape), Zim was the youngest of five children and started playing flute at the age of 21. Although Zim was forced to drop out of school before completing university entrance requirements, his prowess won him a place at Rhodes University. He later went on to study for a diploma in Jazz Studies at the University of Natal. Working with the University’s ensemble, ‘The Jazzanians’, he attended the International Association of Jazz Educators convention
in the United States and was offered scholarships to the Max Roach / Wynton Marsalis jazz workshop and subsequently a Max Roach scholarship to the University of Massachusetts, where he studied with jazz legends Archie Shepp and Yusef Lateef.
Since his return to South Africa in the 1990’s he has worked in the bands of veteran greats like Abdullah Ibrahim and Hugh Masekela. He has also devoted much time and effort into building up a number of small and large combos from the conventional quartet / quintet including his 8 piece band ‘Ingoma’ through to the ‘Drums for Peace Orchestra’. Zim is committed to developing and creating an audience for new South African jazz. His music draws on influences ranging from South Africa’s folk and rural traditions to Indian and western classical music, world music and the avant-garde. Grounded in his South African roots, the music is strongly percussive, improvisational and highly danceable.
Alongside numerous major festival appearances in South Africa, in 1993 he appeared as the guest artist with Paul Van Kemenade and his ensemble, at the Tilburg Festival in front of a large and enthusiastic Dutch audience. In 1995 he toured the United States with his band ‘Ingoma’ and appeared at the historic Black History Week in Chicago. Zim has toured America, Africa, Israel and Europe and has played with greats including Max Roach, Keith Tippett, Dennis Mpale, Andile Yenana, Herbie Tsoaeli, Kevin Gibson, Valerie Naranjo, Bjorn Ole Solburg and his Norweigan San Ensemble to name a few.
“San Song” was released by Sheer Sound in South Africa 1997, to critical acclaim. Licensed from NOR-CD and recorded in Norway, the album comprises original compositions by Zim Ngqawana and Bjorn Ole Solberg. The music is deeply rooted in the folk based jazz traditions of Norway and South Africa. ‘San Song’ features South Africans Zim Ngqawana, Andile Yenana and Norwegians Bjorn Ole Solberg, Ingebrigt Haker Flaten and Paal Nilssen-Love.
“Zimology”, the first solo release by Zim, illustrates his uncanny ability as a musician, composer and fine saxophonist. Recorded in Norway along with two of the original members of San and Zim’s long time pianist Andile Yenana, ‘Zimology’ once again established him as the undoubted king of South African avant-garde jazz music, a genre that he has embraced whole heartedly, unlike numerous of his contemporaries. The album is dedicated to a number of his influences including Yusef Latef, Archie Shepp and Pharaoh Sanders whom he studied and played with while on a Wynston Marsalis scholarship at the Max Roach Institute of Jazz in Massachusetts. He also pays tribute to local jazz legend Mongezi Feza (Blue Notes and Brotherhood of Breath) with the track “You Think You Know Me”.
“Zimology” incorporates many influences from traditional Xhosa rhythms and songs to the more ‘way out’ form of jazz expressionism.
Zim released his second solo project “The Zimphonic Suites” in 2001. Few knew that this recording would produce such a definitive artist album. Following in the footsteps of “Zimology” the reedman manages to fuse the ancient rhythms and songs of Africa with his interpretations of modern jazz music.
The album moves beyond jazz and deals with expression only, as it is supposed to serve a broader purpose by suggesting jazz, classical and other western forms before departing from them.
“Zimphonic Suites” was nominated for an impressive 5 South African Music Awards, the most nominations received by any artist ever for this major awards ceremony. He managed to scoop three awards out of the five nominations including the very prestigious “Best Male Artist”.
Zim Ngqawana’s latest album “Vadzimu” has caused a stir with lovers of good music worldwide. In the words of www.allboutjazz.com – “Vadzimu is a masterpiece!”
In his inimitable style, Zim has produced an album that will remind fans of his legendary prowess as a musician and a producer, and will be sure to draw legions of new followers. Featured guests include Andile Yenana (piano), Marcus Wyatt (trumpet & flugelhorn), Lulu Gontsana and Kesivan Naidoo (drums).
“Vadzimu” is a concept album divided into various sections. The first section of the album “Satire” is a tribute to our own South African heritage and it is expressed in track 3 ‘Gumboot Dance, which conjures up images of our mineworkers.
Zim has reworked Abdullah Ibrahim’s song Tafelberg, and has renamed it Tafelberg / Carnival Samba. He also re-arranged the South African national anthem Nkosi Sikeleli Afrika. The last section “Nocturnes” is a collection of piano pieces played by Zim himself.
“Vadzimu” managed to secure Zim two further SAMA awards and an amazing amount of critical acclaim, scooping the very prestigious “Best Male Artist” as well as “Best Jazz Album” categories that year, no small feat in a country where jazz is a popular and hotly contested music form!
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