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McCoy Mrubata
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McCoy Mrubata was born in 1959 in the township of Langa, Cape Town, South Africa. He was surrounded in childhood by many African hymns, from the sounds of Zion churches to the brassy music of the Merry Macs band who rehearsed opposite his home. With the difficulty of living under the apartheid government and the 1976’s uprising, McCoy left school and followed his music passion. His instrument then was flute, which He studied informally under the likes of Madoda Gxabeka, the Ngcukanas, Winston Ngozi, Ezra and many Langa greats.
In the early 1980s, Mrubata played with many cover bands such as Fever, Touch and Airborne, from where he moved to crossover outfit Louis and the Jive. While touring in the 1980s, he was spotted by bandleader Sipho "Hotstix" Mabuse, who helped him make Johannesburg his home. As Mrubata grew into playing a wider range of reeds and composing more, he engaged with many other bands and that led to the opportunity of a recording deal by producer Koloi Lebona with a British-based record company named Zomba Records in 1988. The same company had produced, among others, Jonathan Butler and Billy Ocean. The following year Mrubata released his debut album Firebird and went on to form Brotherhood, a band with names such as guitarist Jimmy Dludlu, pianist Nhlanhla Magagula and Lucas Khumalo winning the Gilbey's Music for Africa prize in 1990.
Galliano, Andy Hay, Brown Penny, Soren Skov Orbit, And More
by Tony Poole
The weekly Jazz First podcast series “They Call It Jazz" with 1-hour of brand new releases. This week, 11 tracks featuring jazz and jazz not jazz, that forever-debated so- called genre where the emphasis is not necessarily on improvisation but on the groove. Acid Jazz pioneer Galliano is our featured artist. They're back with a new ...
Thembi Dunjana: God Bless iKapa. God Bless Mzantsi.
by Dan Bilawsky
In January of 2024, Ropeadope announced a partnership and co-directed initiative with City of Gold Arts dubbed AfricArise--a new imprint intent on promoting music from the titular continent, with a specific focus on South African artists. Showcasing musicians at once rooted in their heritage and boldly branching out into today's knowns and unknowns, the label quickly ...
Abdullah Ibrahim, McCoy Mrubata, Nduduzo Makhathini, Steve Dyer & More
by Ludovico Granvassu
Enjoy a set spotlighting fascinating South African projects, their new albums which do a really great job at showing both where these artists are coming from and how they experiment with their roots in unconventional ways. Happy listening! Playlist Ben Allison “Mondo Jazz Theme (feat. Ted Nash & Pyeng Threadgill)" 0:00 Spirits ...
McCoy Mrubata: The Doyen of South African Jazz
by Harry S. Pariser
At 64, McCoy Mrubata is a commanding presence on the South African jazz scene. A Cape Town native who now resides in Johannesburg along with his wife and four children, Mrubata has won many awards and accolades in his native country, including a lifetime achievement award. Yet, Mrubata remains a lesser known figure in the US. ...
Sisonke Xonti: A Leap of Faith
by Seton Hawkins
Known for years as an outstanding saxophonist and first-call collaborator in a variety of top South African Jazz ensembles, in recent years Sisonke Xonti has rightly earned acclaimed for his own talents as a bandleader and a composer. Notably, Xonti's 2017 debut release Iyonde not only provided a stellar showcase for his superlative horn ...
Jazz of the New South Africa, Part 1
by Seton Hawkins
South Africa celebrated its first democratic elections in April 1994, entering a new phase of its history. During that decade, an incredible new array of Jazz artists emerged in the country, exploring Jazz's role in the New South Africa. Playlist Bheki Mseleku “Closer to the Source" from Celebration (World Circuit) 2:03 Paul Hanmer ...
Destination South Africa (Part 2)
by Ludovico Granvassu
One episode was not enough, so we needed more time to cover the South African scene. This week we look back at an earlier phase of the history of jazz in South Africa, focusing on some foundational bands and musicians, and the musicians they inspired both in South African and elsewhere. Playlist Ben Allison ...
Mandla Mlangeni: Born to Be
by Seton Hawkins
Mandla Mlangeni has been engaged. The South African trumpeter, composer, and bandleader oversees three groups, notably the Amandla Freedom Ensemble and the Tune Recreation Committee. Additionally, his works are marked by an intense effort to explore and connect with social discourse in the country today. Indeed, from the Tune Recreation Committee's naming nod to South Africa's ...
Lwanda Gogwana: Tradition and Innovation
by Seton Hawkins
When South African trumpet virtuoso Lwanda Gogwana released his second album Uhadi Synth (Lwanda Gogwana Music Group, 2016) last year, he reinforced his position not only as one of South Africa's truly exceptional horn talents, but also as one of its most probing and insightful artists and composers. The title of the album itself--the ...
