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Cape Town Jazz Muso Ivan Mazuze Launches Debut Album
'Maganda' is the smooth, suave and soul-felt debut offering from this Cape Town jazz musician
As with all aspiring musicians, at a young age, Mozambican Ivan Mazuze dreamt of the day when he would record and release his own music.
We’re happy to tell you that that day has come, and Ivan’s debut album – Maganda – is smooth and sophisticated, and straight from the heart.
"This CD is a reflection of my experiences throughout my career with different bands and musicians, as well as places I've lived and important events in my life. Moving to Cape Town and living here has played a major role in my career," Ivan told CapeTownMagazine.com.
"The music on this album is diverse and a combination of different styles; it's difficult to label, but I'd say it's Afro funky groovy mellow music for different moments, times and places," he says.
Right from the start this talented young man had a clear vision of what he had to do in order to succeed in the music industry.
Ivan realized that educating himself and mastering his instrument was not enough, and while studying he set up his own production and publishing company to handle the administration and business side of his career.
But, for this disciplined musician, the dream became a goal, the goal became part of his ambition, and he worked on his own compositions regularly.
Ivan did not wait for record companies to offer him a deal. When he was ready (in 2008) he recorded his debut CD at Paris Studios in Fish Hoek, through his own company and with his own finances.
The result is Maganda (Ivan’s traditional name) and this is without a doubt a collector’s item.
When Mozambican Ivan Mazuze decided to make Cape Town his home in 2000, he already had a Diploma in Classical Music from the Maputo National Music School under his belt. He studied piano, clarinet and saxophone, with the clarinet as his first instrument.
But, for this humble, dedicated and determined musician, this was far from enough.
In 2002 Ivan obtained the Performers Diploma in music (jazz studies), and was awarded a distinction in jazz ensemble and jazz improvisation at the University of Cape Town (UCT).
In 2005 he obtained a bachelor of music (Honours) in performance, awarded in the first class (distinction) at UCT. In 2006 he graduated with a Master’s degree in musicology at UCT.
In 2007 Ivan Mazuze wrote an article about music and trance in ritual practices, for the educational magazine “The talking drum” released in December 2007 (number 28). Ivan continues writing more articles for different ethno-musicological journals.
Ivan has performed, and continues to perform, with jazz legends like Jimmy Dludlu, Hotep Galeta, Judith Sephuma, Jonathan Butler, The Mike Campbell Big Band, Loading Zone and many others.
"Being exposed to and working with great saxophonists such as Zim Qqawana, Robbie Jansen, Winston Mankunku, Khaya Mahlangu, Mike Rossi and Barnie Rachabane has greatly influenced my playing as a saxophonist," Ivan says.
His new album features some of the top musician in the country:
- Alvin Dyers - guitar
- Lucas Khumalo – bass
- Kevin Gibson – drums
- Mark Fransman – piano
- Camillo Lombard – piano
- Andrew Lilley - keyboards
- John Hassan – percussion
- Tony Paco – percussion
- Graham Beyer - trombone
- Melanie Schultz - vocals
- Nomfundo Xaluva – vocals
- Hlulani Hlongwane – vocals
- Heinrich Frans - vocals
CapeTownMagazine.com is passionate about South African music and particularly music from Cape Town.
In this country and in this city we are blessed with musicians who not only have spectacular musical talent, they also know how to communicate wise and colourful insights through their songs – whether via words or via rhythms. Ivan Mazuze is undoubtedly one of those people!
To listen to the best South African music online, make sure you load up our South African Music JukeBox, where we feature some of the country’s most lively, thoughtful, authentic and impressive musicians and bands.
Listen to South African jazz online in our JukeBox now and discover the music that makes us!
