THE MUSIQ IN ME: THE FUTURE OF JAZZ- SANDILE GONTSANA

Sandile Gontsana

In the quest of getting to know music better and trying to get into the '' belly'' of this food for the soul , I have come across artists who are just blessed with musical magnetism and who I could listen to for hours without getting bored. Sandile Gontsana is fast growing to be the next big hit in the jazz scene. He is a bubbly young man full of life and just lights up a room with his smile and I must add he is very kind. The first time I heard about him was in a conversation amongst friends and them going on about how his vocal abilities just excites your love for jazz , how his approach to the standards just makes it so lovely for a musician to play for him. My curiosity arose and I had this excitement of one day I would like to meet Sandile and hear what everybody is '' raving’’ about.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO BE A MUSICIAN

It comes from home. Mom’s side gospel, her family is very musical but not professional singers although they good and Dad’s side jazz. My uncle also added to the inspiration, Lulu Gontsana he’s a drummer, a very awesome one in Cape Town and he has played with top musicians in the country.

DID YOU GO TO SCHOOL OR IS THIS JUST TALENT?

I studied music, jazz vocals major 2005-2007 undergrad. I studied at UCT (University of Cape Town). 2009-2010 Post Grad jazz vocals I got a distinction.

WHY JAZZ?

I grew up listening to gospel and as the love grew then I started listening to “hip gospel” the likes of Yolanda Adams, Richard Smallwood and Kim Burrell at the same time my ears weren’t mute to my uncle’s jazz, which he used to play all the time and it was the old school jazz the likes of Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins and Sarah Vaughan just to mention a few. My uncle bought me my first jazz album by Carmen McRae “Sings Monk”. Upon hearing these great musicians something inside me moved and I knew this is what I want to do. Back then I didn’t know gospel had or rather has jazz influence. From here I was hooked for life.

WHICH ARTIST(S) INFLUENCED YOU?

Mam Sibongile Khumalo, Bra Don Tshomela and Bra Victor Ntoni where the 1^st group of artists in South Africa I got hooked to their music. Internationally quite a few but I would say Sarah Vaughan, Kurt Elling and Mark Murphy. It has to start somewhere and they planted that seed through their songs.

HAVE YOU WORKED WITH ANY OF THE ARTIST WHO INSPIRED YOU?

Oh yes... I have worked with Mam Sibongile Khumalo. I actually moved to Johannesburg last year May to work with her on the national tour she had.

WHO WOULD YOU SAY DISCOVERED YOU?

Well I actually don’t know who discovered me; don’t think there is anyone who can claim that one. I should rather add that while I was still studying at UCT I was involved with the UCT Big Band from 2005-2007 and with the UCT Jazz Ensemble so I can say I found my way around from there.

WHAT MAKES YOU STAND OUT?

I am me! I never try to copy anyone else and I love what I do. Yes I have some influences in my music national and international, all I do is fuse those two together and you get Sandile Gontsana.

CAN YOU BOLDLY STAND AND SAY YOU ARE AN ARTIST OR YOU STILL FINDING YOURSELF?

Yes I am an artist and still finding myself. I believe we are all on that journey of finding ourselves and our paths. So I’m not there too but I know where I want to go.

BEST MOMENTS AS AN ARTIST SO FAR?

To me whenever I’m on stage with a hip band doing what I love doing, singing the songs I love singing that to me is a best moment. In 2008 I went to Spain the Motown Tribute show. I would like to say “JOY OF JAZZ 2013” is the best for me thus far. Niki’s on the night of my performance was full to the point that I myself was shocked and to top it off great musicians were there too, Mam Sibongile Khumalo, Sis Gloria Bosman, Bra Concord Nkabinde were there, was such an honour to have sang in the presence of those musical heroines and heroes. Thank you to the band Siyanqoba Mthethwa, Bheka Mthethwa, Sinikiwe Mabaso and guest appearance Linda Skhakhane on saxphone.

ACORRDING TO YOU WHAT IS A HIP BAND?

I can’t really pick one since I have the pleasure of working with talented musicians, I just love working with” cool dudes”. There are a lot of people I would love to play with here in South Africa Siyanqoba Mthethwa and Bheka Mthethwa are amongst those who I would love to work with on my album. There really is a lot of musicians I love working with and I can’t choose they all fulfil my desires as musicians. I love passionate musicians. In Durban I got an opportunity to work with a few I would say they hip Lungelo Ngcobo, Ildo Nandja and Siphelelo Mazibuko. In Jozi got an opportunity to do the joy of jazz and there I worked with Siyanqoba Mthethwa, Bheka Mthethwa Sinikiwe Mabaso and Linda Skhakhane.

ANY CRITICS SO FAR AS AN ARTIST?

Critics will always be there, and to give them the benefit of the doubt they doing their job and I’m doing mine. I let them talk and I just do my thing. In life not everybody will love and admire what I do, so I protect myself from such. There have been people here in JHB, DBN and CPT who have told me they do not like my singing to my face and I just kept calm and said “OK I appreciate your opinion”. Rudely I would say “leave my gig and go somewhere else” but they there to witness my growth so they can stay and watch. Out of 5 people who do not like what I do, 20 000 people out there love what I do out there. You know I have learned to go for what I want and to forget people who do not like me. I believe I was born to do this and my destiny is to walk down this path and frankly that is what I am doing.

WHEN IS YOUR DEBUTE ALBUM?

Well I am currently working on that but won’t be now because I am going to Australia and Sydney working on something. I have good song writers and producers, I believe am not so much into composing that is why I bringing people who can do a better job than me.

THE FUTURE?

Well now I’m working on a concept called ‘’ TRIBUTE TO THE SOUTH AFRICAN LEGENDS’’ I have been working, where I will be singing our legend music. I feel we start acknowledge them when they gone of which it is too late them. I want to pay tribute to them singing their songs my own way just to say thank you.