Jazz at The Villa - Victor Masondo Quartet - Steve Dyer Quintet - DJ Charles Leonard

ABOUT

This is the second installment of Jazz at The Villa in 2024, and we bring you another magnificent jazz line up in the delicious and intimate setting of Villa Simonne Boutique Hotel in Houghton, Johannesburg.

With the experienced Jazz DJ Charles Leonard opening the afternoon with a torrid set of SA jazz, the day is set and the platform is ready to welcome legendary bassit, educator, composer and band leader Victor Masondo to our stage. He joins us with a torrid quartet featuring Thami Mahlangu on saxophones, Sphelelo Mazibuko on drums and Mark Fransman on keys. Victor will present his new project.

After another DJ set by Charles Leonard, we feature one of the veteran and most respected artist of the SA jazz scene and a fantastic composer and band leader, saxophonist and flutist Steve Dyer. He will lead his quintet featuring Michael Nkuna on trumpet, Tebogo Kobela on keys, Dalisu Ndlazi on double bass and Sphelelo Mazibuko on drums. Bra Steve will present his latest offering “Enhlizweni - song stories from my Heartland”. Expect lots of amazing music and an afternoon filled with peaceful beauty.

DJ Charles Leonard will close the afternoon / evening with another set of great sounds from the vinyl turn tables. Amazing and original photographic documents by Siphiwe Mhlambi will be exhibited at The Villa throughout the afternoon.

This very special afternoon of SA Jazz is brought to you by Pegs Music Project and Artful Expressions, in association with Villa Simonne Boutique Hotel.

Program of the day

13h00 - Doors open

13h15 - DJ Charles Leonard 1st Set

14h00 - Victor Masondo Quartet Set

15h30 - DJ Charles Leonard 2nd Set

16h15 - Steve Dyer Quintet set

17h45 - DJ Charles Leonard 3rd Set

Bands Line Ups.

Victor Masondo - double bass

(to be confirmed ) - saxophones

Mark Fransman - keys

Sphelelo Mazibuko - drums

Victor Sibusiso Masondo was born and raised in Durban, and because of the nurturing influence of a musical family, knew at an early age that he wanted a career in music. His late father, Themba Daniel Masondo, was a Pastor, and a guitarist, while his two elder brothers played bass guitar and the drums respectively, providing a strong influence in Victor's choice of a career in music.

While studying music at Natal University under Darius Brubeck, son of the legendary pianist Dave Brubeck, Victor, alongside his school and band mates Zim Ngqawana, and Lulu Gontsana, caught the attention of legendary jazz musicians Max Roach and Clark Terry during one of the University Jazz Band's trips to the U.S.

After Graduation in 1987, Victor, with bass in hand, took advantage of an invitation to tour the U.S., Europe and South Africa, with the South African band "Friends First". In 1990, after returning to South Africa from exile, Miriam Makeba made Victor an offer he could not refuse - to produce Mama Africa's first album at home. The recording featured Hugh Masekela, Nina Simone and Dizzy Gillespie, which led to a tour in 1991 with Dizzy Gillespie and Miriam Makeba with Victor as the musical director.

Between 1993 and 1996 Victor served as Musical Director for the "Shell Road to Fame" and witnessed the launching of the musical careers of artists like Rebecca Malope, Sharon D, Ringo and many others. It was during this time that Victor became a member of the famed group Stimela with Ray Phiri.

Victor's abilities as both a Songwriter and Producer, caught the attention of the organizers of a U.S. based Production Company and Warner Bros. Records in 1995. This led to Victor being invited to produce an album in celebration of the "new" South Africa. The album, "A Place of Hope", featured Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Ray Phiri, George Duke, Gerald Albright, Sibongile Khumalo, Ian Herman, Nana Coyote, Gail Hamilton, Take 6, Al Jarreau, Sheila E, Chante Moore, Jeffrey Osborne, Tsepo Tshola, the late Wendy Mseleku, Hugh Masekela, Al MacKay, Bela Fleck, Victor Wooten, Roy Wooten (Future Man) and many other musicians from both the USA and South Africa. This project raised funds for the restoration of the famed Regina Mundi Church in Soweto. A church with a rich historical value which hosted struggle icons like Nelson Mandela, Bishop Tutu and many more as a place of safety to meet for strategic planning for the liberation of South Africa

from the then apartheid regime.

In 1996 Victor received the Standard Bank Young artist award which is given each year for high achievement and recognition for great contribution to the music industry.

In 2007 he finished producing the new Freshlyground record in Cape Town and also got back to Washington DC for the Duke Ellington Jazz Festival which is a 90 Tribute to the late Dizzy Gillespie.

In 2010 Victor got an invite to be the Music Director and Producer of the music for the

Closing Ceremony for the World Cup. This is where he was working closely with the

Grammy Award Winning Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Shakira, Hhashi Elimhlophe, Zolani

Mahola(Freshlyground) Nianell, Wouter Kellerman, Stoan, and many great South African

musicians.

2020 Victor released the first series called Legacy Tributes, this time honouring the Late Dr Joseph Shabalala.

Victor has finished recording his First Jazz Recording Album entitled As Promised, this album, as he said, has been in the making for a while and it’s time is now. This recording was prompted by a demand from his Jazz followers who have always wanted to hear his music and experience him back on stages nationally. Between producing Music, Songwriting, Arranging and Conducting he has been kept really busy in his music passion.

Steve Dyer - saxophones and flute

Sphelelo Mazibuko - drums

Dalisu Ndlazi - bass

Michael Nkuna - trumpet

Tebogo Kobela - keys

Steve Dyer believes that no single culture owns the monopoly on human wisdom. Every human life born into whatever culture, ethnicity or spiritual belief system has the same value.

Steve was born in Pietermaritzburg, South Africa in 1960 and completed a B Mus degree in performance at the University of Natal in 1981, majoring in saxophone and flute.

Refusing military conscription into the SADF he left South Africa and lived in Botswana for 5 years. Here he came into contact with the exile sounds blowing through the horns of Hugh Masekela and Jonas Gwangwa. He helped form “Shakawe” led by Jonas Gwangwa and played in the band for 3 years. In 1988 after a stint in the U.K. he settled in Zimbabwe where after releasing his debut album Southern Freeway (1989) he formed a group with that same name. “Indlela yenkululeko” was released in 1992. In 1990 he joined the Amandla cultural ensemble of the ANC on a 7 week tour of Japan.

With democracy on the horizon in 1993 Steve returned to South Africa. Steve has released 9 albums under his name, including the critically acclaimed “Genesis of a different world” released in 2019. He conceptualised the Southern African music “supergroup” Mahube that has been an ongoing touring collaboration since 1997.

Steve has also composed “Rebirth” - a concerto for soprano saxophone, string quartets, music for saxophone and marimbas and more. Steve also has extensive producing experience including 6 albums for Oliver Mtukudzi (1998-2002) including the seminal Tuku music, as well as directing large and small scale concerts on the African continent and abroad.

In April-May 2023 Steve toured the east and west coasts of the U.S.A. in a series of duo performances with Bokani Dyer called “Dyer-logue”. He also performed the Genesis of a different world repertoire at Dizzy’s Jazz club, Lincoln centre with a sextet.

As of October 1st 2023 Steve has just finished producing his 10th solo project called “Enhlizweni - song stories from my Heartland”. This project will be released in April 2024 via a joint collaboration between Ropeadope and AfricArise.

Food and drinks are available at The Villa throughout the day.

Parking on 2, 3rd Avenue, Corner West St, Houghton Estate

DIRECTIONS