#xjazz

Siya Makuzeni - Curator and Band Leader

Siya Makuzeni is a professional South African trombone player, vocalist, lyricist and songwriter who has regularly collaborated with A-list South African musicians such as Marcus Wyatt, Themba Mkhize, McCoy Mrubata, FeyaFaku, Frank Opperman, TlaleMakhene, KhayaMahlangu, Sibongile Khumalo, and many more. She is also the band leader of her own rock band, Ippyfuze. Music producer, session musician, arranger and voice-over artist when not performing live; Makuzeni has lent her song writing skills to different albums by various artists and is the recipient of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz 2016.

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Sheila Maurice-Grey - Trumpet

Ms Maurice also known as Sheila Maurice-Grey is a London based trumpeter, vocalist and Visual Artist. Central to Ms Maurice’s music, is stimulated by her visual art practice where she aims to question her ‘identity’ as well as what it means ‘to misrepresent vs to be misrepresented.’

She has performed and worked with the likes of KANO, Little Simz, Loyle Carner, Kwes. and many more. Whilst being band leader of KOKOROKO, Ms Maurice is also a core member of NÉRIJA, SEED ensemble, New Purple Celebration many others.

Ms Maurice brings her melange of influences from organic grooves infused with 70s jazz and a touch of West African sonic seasoning and her sound is heavily influenced by her London upbringing.

Isobella Burnham - Bassist

Isobella Burnham is a vibrant 20 year old Bassist, Vocalist and Songwriter from England. Growing up in Barbados she soaked up the rich musical culture around her and studied Jazz at the Barbados Community College. Her music can be described as a blend of soulful vocals and jazz with Caribbean rhythms. Isobella has played with Tomorrow’s Warriors at Love Supreme, Pizza Express, and Notting Hill Carnival and with Hank Band at the Labin Jazz Festival in Croatia. She is also the bassist for Connie Constance.

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Micah Miyanda - Guitarist

Micah Miyanda is a 23 year old Zambian guitarist and musical protégé who has been mastering her guitar since early childhood. At a young age, she has already had the privilege of performing alongside revered Zambian and international artists such Pompi, Abel Chungu, the late Hugh Masekela, Grammy Award winning artist Earl Klugh, Boyz II Men, Oliver Mthukudzi and Micasa.

Kasiva Mutua - Drummer

Jackline Kasiva Mutua (Kasiva) is an internationally touring drummer and percussionist based in a Nairobi, Kenya. Her exuberant performances reflect a panoply of influences, including afrobeat, zouk, samba, reggae and soul. Describing her beginnings as a young drummer, Kasiva says: “I grew up a curious child. I listened carefully to every sound; bird calls, cricket chirps, cowbells and traditional drums are embedded in my mind and now I chant them in my sleep. Most evenings my sister and I would recline by the fire and listen to stories narrated by our grandmother. She would sit with a drum between her legs and teach us the traditional mechanism of our people: the language of the drums. Perpetuating our people’s heritage, she introduced me to drums and shakers, celebrating our community’s spirit and also imparting moral guidance.”

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Marlyn Chimombo - Vocalist

Marlyn Chimombo is a Malawi born vocalist, musician and music teacher. In 2010 she joined the acclaimed Peter Mawanga and Amaravi movement, a band performing and producing Afro vibes – a fusion of traditional African rhythms, composition, vocal arrangements and modern instrumentation.She is trained in and teaches Music pedagogy, music theory, singing jazz, classical and choral styles at Music Crossroads in Malawi.

Dates:

23 - 30th September 2018, Lilongwe, Malawi. The weeklong music and creative project will bring together female artists from Southern Africa and the UK working in the contemporary jazz scene.

Creative Hustle: 27 September, Lilongwe, Malawi. Creative Hustles session at 1Five Entertainment where ideas and insights about the music sector will be shared.

Performance: 27 September, Lilongwe, Malawi. Live music jam session by the band and other local artists at Area 10 Café

Performance: 28 & 30 September, Lake of Stars. Banou Azania will then moves to Lake of Stars Malawi Arts Festival with performances on Friday 28 and Sunday 30 September.

Performance: 2 October, Johannesburg, South Africa. Untitled Basement. Event page.

Updates:

Facebook: Video, meet the xJAZZ band

Facebook: Live from the Johannesburg performance (2 October 2018)

Instagram Stories: Meet the xJAZZ band

About the project:

From the 23rd to 30th September 2018, six young and critically acclaimed musicians from five countries will assemble in Lilongwe, Malawi for xJazz, an exciting jazz music residency programme. The weeklong music and creative project will bring together female artists from Southern Africa and the UK working in the contemporary jazz scene. The residency creates opportunities for new connections, collaborations and showcasing while providing a platform for the artists to share insights, ideas, expertise and to broaden their networks. The Residency will culminate in a live performance of collaborative material by the band at the Lake of Stars Malawi Music Festival 2018.

The first residency band “Banou Azania or Royal Africa” will comprise a multi-country ensemble of the most sought after jazz talent including Isobella Burnham – Bass (UK), Marlyn Chimombo – Vocals (Malawi), Sheila Maurice-Grey – Trumpet (UK), Siya Makuzeni - Trombone (South Africa), Micah Miyanda – Guitar (Zambia) and Kasiva Mutua – Drummer (Kenya).

With multifaceted skills including composition, arrangement, improvisation, song writing, lyrics and vocals, the band will create a unique and experimental sound that infuses African music with traditional Jazz elements. The band’s residency activities include creating music, networking and external activities. This will include a music workshop with young women at the Music Cross Roads centre on Thursday 27 September followed by a Creative Hustles session at 1Five Entertainment where ideas and insights about the music sector will be shared. The activity packed day will end of with a live music jam session by the band and other local artists at Area 10 Café. Banou Azania will then move to Lake of Stars Malawi Arts Festival will showcase performances on Friday 28 and Sunday 30 September.

The xJazz Music Residency is a project by the British Council in partnership with Lake of Stars Malawi Arts Festival, Umodzi Park, Music Cross Roads, The Presidents Hotel, 1Five Entertainment and Airtel Malawi.

The residency will then move to Johannesburg, South Africa from the 1st to 4th October where the band will showcase a collaborative live performance as well as engage with other young women in the music sector.

Siya Makuzeni, curator and band leader for the project says, “Through the xJazz music residency the aim is to bring together young and phenomenal jazz musicians who happen to be women, from five countries different countries; for them to experiment, create music together and build connections that will hopefully be beneficial to their careers going forward while inspiring other young women to pick up music instruments.”

For more information about the xJazz Music Residency and to follow the various activities please visit:

Hashtag: #xJAZZ