The Centre for Jazz and
Popular Music proudly presents the Roland Moses Quartet, Wednesday 19 February
2025 at 17:30.
Roland Moses is a South
African pianist, composer and educator with a unique performance style. His
versatility has him performing South African Jazz, Jazz, Indian music and world
– influenced music with virtuosity and passion. Drawing from a plethora of international
and local musical interactions, his compositions and encapsulate the various
cultural exchanges. Roland Moses is a YAMAHA artist.
The Roland Moses Quartet
features Roland Moses (Piano) Abraham Mennen (Saxophone), Viwe Mkiziwana (Double Bass) and Mzamo Mthembu (Drums).
The Roland Moses quartet
specialises in performing original compositions and arrangements by Roland
Moses. The music incorporates a range of local and international styles such as
Swing, Latin jazz, Fusion, and Mbaqanga, all infused with African rhythmic
elements. These compositions have been influenced by various musical genres,
cultural exchanges with countries like Sweden, Thailand, Netherlands, Japan,
and the USA, and collaborations with both local and international artists.
The performance by the
quartet explores a textural and sonorous concept that transforms into a form of
storytelling within the compositions and improvisations. The melodies are
interpreted on the saxophone instead of the piano, contributing to a new texture
and performance dynamic. The instrumental line-up encourages contrapuntal
accompaniment and melodic interplay throughout the improvisatory sections and
main melodies.
Progressive piano
techniques intertwine with collective improvisation by the ensemble, fostering
creative interplay between the instrumentalists. This interplay is evident not
only in the improvisational styles but also in the thematic structure,
stimulating the generation of new musical ideas and providing impetus for
musical discovery.
Abraham Mennen’s saxophone
playing is deeply influenced by the rich textures and sounds of South African
music, blending traditional and contemporary techniques with a distinctive
personal style. One of the standout aspects of his approach is his use of the
Uhadi bow, a traditional South African string instrument that he incorporates
into his saxophone sound to create unique timbres and expressive nuances.
Mennen's mastery of the Uhadi technique allows him to mimic the bow’s sliding,
pitch-bending qualities on the saxophone, adding an African vocal quality to
his improvisations.
This concert is made possible through the support of
Concerts SA, the Festival Enterprise Catalyst, SAMRO, the National Treasury
Jobs Fund, and IKS Cultural Consulting.
Gig
listing:
Roland Moses Quartet
19 February Wednesday
2025
Doors open at 17:00,
Music starts at 17:30
UKZN, Centre for Jazz
and Popular Music
University of Kwa-Zulu
Natal, Howard College Campus, Dennis Shepstone Building, Level 2
Tickets: R130, R95 for
pensioners, R65 for students
Online Tickets available on
webtickets:
https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1562829010
