After a 20-year hiatus, South African pianist, composer, producer and educator Andile Yenana returns with WAY OUT IS IN, a powerful live recording captured in Basel, Switzerland at Bird’s Eye Jazz Club in June 2018. The album was recorded over three days in front of a live audience, capturing the spontaneity and depth that define Yenana’s artistry. He will perform tunes from this recording at the UKZN Centre for Jazz and Popular Music on Wednesday 11 March.

Reflecting on the long wait between releases, Yenana shares: “I needed time to strip away everything (that no longer aligned) – old relationships, familiar places, even certain versions of myself – to listen more deeply. In that period, I began rediscovering what truly moves me musically and culturally. I went back to the Xhosa folk songs I grew up with – songs that shaped me – and through that process of letting go and returning, I was able to reimagine these songs on the piano.”

Pianist Andile Yenana. Picture supplied

This album is the result of a rich cultural exchange between Yenana and Swiss musicians. International collaboration is not something new to him. At 26, he participated in a music exchange programme with Norwegian musicians alongside his mentor, Zim Ngqawana. Having previously experienced such cross-cultural partnerships, Yenana had a s strong sense of how this creative journey might unfold.

WAY OUT IS IN presents a culmination of his musical quests – a reflection of everything he has learned and continues to learn. For Yenana, learning is an ongoing, lifelong process. The project was inspired by cultural fellowship, shared ideas, environment, and the freedom to articulate a personal story in a distinctive way. Presenting himself before audiences unfamiliar with his music in Switzerland and experiencing their warm reception further shaped the spirit of this recording.

The album invites listeners to venture into both familiar and unknown territories in search of their true selves. It also aims to offer a sense of resolution and introspection to all who engage with it. WAY OUT IS IN was officially released on 24 October 2025 and is available on all digital platforms. The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music is located at Level 2, Dennis Shepstone Building, Howard College Campus. Tickets are available through Webtickets or at the door. They are selling at R130 for general public, R100 for pensioners and R70 for students with a valid student card. Doors will open at 17h00 and the concert starts at 17h30.