Bongani Givethanks will be performing “Sounds From The Catalogue” at The UKZN Centre for Jazz and Popular Music on Wednesday 17 September. The artist whose real name is Bongani Glen Sibanyoni, hails from Mabopane, Pretoria. A pianist turned multifaceted musician, his work includes sound design, production, songwriting and bandleading.

With a sound rooted in African traditions yet futuristic in scope, Bongani has collaborated with various artists, and performed at festivals including Smoking Dragon, The Music Imbizo and Arts Alive (Rhythm of Resistance). Internationally, he has worked with Germany’s Jazz & Milk, Brazil’s Caixa Cubo, and joined the US OneBeat residency.

Bongani Givethanks. Picture supplied

He is the founder of Mvumo Productions and JAZZINJECTION, a community initiative preserving live music. Bongani continues to nurture talent and push creative boundaries. His releases, “Indoda” and “Tsela” to his recent “El Hombre” remix project with Nu Jazz producer Gab Juz, showcase his genre-defying vision. Bongani’s music lives where Classic Jazz meets the future, fusing live instrumentation, improvisation, and lush harmonies with the pulse of house music, downtempo, broken beats, and Afro-Jazz rythms.

Bongani reimagines his digitally composed stories through live instruments, voice, and improvisation. Joining him on stage are Victor Simeli on piano, Kgosi Bilankulu on bass, Churchill Six on drums, Aubrey Seapose on lead guitar, Mthokozisi Mazibuko and Thabang Kgaledi on percussions.

The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music is located at Dennis Shepstone Building, Level 2, Howard College Campus. Tickets can be purchased at Webtickets or at the venue. They are selling at R120 for general public, R90 for pensioners and R60 for students with a valid student card. Doors will open at 17h00 and the concert starts at 17h30.