Drummer extraordinaire Ayanda Sikade and his trio will be performing at the popular Alliance Française, Durban on 28 February.  The alumni at the University of KwaZulu-Natal has not performed in the city where he studied in a while and is looking forward to reconnect with the eThekwini audience through his much-anticipated gig.

Sikade released his debut album “Movements” in 2018.  His compositions and live performances draw inspiration from masters like John Coltrane and Zim Ngqawana, the latter having been his mentor for many years.  His trio is about exploring new soundscapes by introducing an African context within the American jazz approach.

“We like to do this by composing music with a strong cultural and spiritual background of our great ancestors, but with a modern twist that represents our diversity in the new South Africa” Sikade said.  The performance promises to have elements of freedom and the strong rhythmical essence fans expect form the drummer.

Ayanda’s career goes back to many years ago.  Born in 1981 at Mdantsane, he was a drummer for the Vuka Jazz band at a tender age of 10.  It was pianist and academic Darius Brubeck who invited Sikade to enroll for the jazz programme at UKZN when the two met for the first time in 1999. In 2004, he won the prestigious Samro Overseas Scholarship.

Over the years, Sikade has worked with some of the best jazz musicians in the country and abroad including Feya Faku, Bheki Mseleku, Robbie Jansen, Barney Rachabane and Darius Brubeck.  He has also worked with Simphiwe Dana on the recording of a DVD titled “Simphiwe Dana Live at the Lyric Theatre” in 2010.  Completing Sikade’s trio will be pianist Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane and Leon Scharnick on saxophone.

Alliance Française is located at 22 Sutton Cres, Morning Side, Berea in Durban.  Cover charge is R100. Doors open at 6pm and the concert starts at 7pm.  For bookings, please send an email to info.afdbn@alliance.org.zaor call +27 31 312 9582 for more details.