American saxophonist Ernest Dawkins will be performing in front of his loyal Durban fans at University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) Centre for Jazz and Popular Music on Wednesday 12 February 2020.  He has a reputation of engaging directly with his audience and often invites some enthusiasts to join him for a song and dance in his shows.

Dawkins is one of the world’s premiere saxophonists and an Emmy Award composer, whose life goal is for his music and compositions to reflect the evolving collective cultural memory of the African American jazz aesthetic.  He is currently Chairman of the AACM and Executive Director of Live the Spirit Residency.  Dawkins is currently in residence at the Rebuild Foundation, directing the AACM’s Great Black Music Ensemble every first Sunday of the month at The Stony Island Arts Bank.

Since 2014, Dawkins has standing engagement every Sunday at Normans Bistro in Chicago, the sessions have become legendary.  He is a recipient of the Joyce Award and McArthur International Connections grant in partnership with The Old Town School of Folk Music, and Live the Spirit Residency, composing and presenting an original composition titled “Quantum Englewood”, and music for the Englewood to Soweto exchange.

He is the leader and founder of several ensembles, most notably the New Horizons Ensemble, Aesop Quartet, Chicago Trio, Live the Spirit Big Band, the Boglifier, Englewood to Soweto Exchange, and the Chicago 12.  Dawkins has recorded numerous CDs and his publishing company, Dawk Music, has twelve releases to date.

Joining Dawkins are pianist Neil Gonsalves, bassist Dalisu Ndlazi and drummer Stanley Matlou.  Centre for Jazz and Popular Music is at Level 2, Shepstone Building at UKZN Howard College Campus.  Cover charge is R90 for general admission, R60 for pensioners while students carrying student cards only pay R30.  Doors will open at 17h30 and the concert starts at 18h00.