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Cosy up to a night of jazzy folk with musicians Athi Ngcaba, Senna-Marie and Tubatsi Mpho Moloi fresh from Makhanda during the National Arts Festival.
As part of a winter tour, the trio will be performing at the Legends Showcase venue, Berea, on Saturday night.
Urban Village band member Moloi, 40, from Johannesburg, was flying in just in time for Saturday’s show.
“When we started planning the tour we asked about and heard about the Legends Creative Hub in East London and heard that it’s a wonderful space to share our message and our music,” Moloi said.
“Music is a beautiful collaboration between sound and vibrations — they keep us light. It’s a message of positivity, of motivation, a message of joy.”
“There is a soulful warmth within our [sound]. We are keeping it cosy, and people really warm up to that.”
Guitarist and singer Senna-Marie, 28, also from Johannesburg, was looking forward to playing in East London for the first time.
“My dad’s side of the family is based in East London and since Athi is also from there we are really excited to perform, and being in Makhanda for the National Arts Festival, it made sense,” she said.
“I know a lot of talented musicians who come from East London and the Eastern Cape.
“There is a [music] scene and we are keen to share our music and see what people say — it’s our first time and we are keen to bring it all and offer as much as we can.”
Though not part of the official NAF programme, Senna-Marie and Ngcaba kick-started their tour with an intimate show at the Hotel Victoria Mews in Makhanda on Wednesday night.
“Music is a beautiful collaboration between sound and vibrations — they keep us light. It’s a message of positivity, of motivation, a message of joy. There is a soulful warmth within our [sound]. We are keeping it cosy, and people really warm up to that.”
“Wednesday was a crash-landing into performance,” she said
“It was a very intimate set and it was lovely playing alongside other musicians.”
Describing her genre, Senna-Marie said she considered herself a songwriter first, before being a vocalist and musician.
“It’s folk music influenced by old ’70s [sound].
“I usually perform with my full band of six people who all come from jazz backgrounds — so its jazz sensibilities within the folk genre.
“But when it comes to genre I consider myself a songwriter first. That’s where my musical influences are rooted.
“My father wrote songs and that’s where [my journey] began.”
Trombonist Ngcaba, 27, from Johannesburg, said it would be his first time back on the East London stage in nine years, having grown up in the metro.
“I’m excited about being home,” he said.
“I haven’t played in East London since I was in high school. Even being in Makhanda is special, that I get to play and bring this music home.
“My family is coming to watch and I’m excited!
“Of course, there are nerves, but that’s when you know the show is going to be good.”
While all three musicians are accustomed to performing with their own full bands, Ngcaba said it was a welcome challenge for the trio to play unaccompanied.
“This tour is stripping everything down — from the drums, the base, the keyboard the backup vocals to just trombone, guitar and lead vocals.
“It requires a lot of listening and presence.
“It’s almost a spiritual, experience — you don’t really notice there are people watching because you are so fully present on stage feeding off each other’s energies.”
Catch the Legends Showcase with Athi Ngcaba, Senna-Marie and Tubatsi Mpho Moloi at the Legends Creative Hub on Saturday July 1 at 6.30pm.
Tickets through Quicket.
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