Latest news with #KesivanNaidoo
IOL News
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Kesivan Naidoo's 'Love Letter to South African Jazz' at the freedom in sound tour
Kesivan Naidoo and The Lights are celebrating South African jazz and the legacy of democracy in their final concert of the 'Freedom in Sound' tour at the Baxter. Image: Supplied Kesivan Naidoo is a man of precision - whether in the kitchen or behind the drum kit, every note and every ingredient is carefully considered. I recently caught up with him before he headed to South Africa, as he's cooking dinner in his Basel home: salmon trout baked to perfection, accompanied by fancy potatoes and a beurre blanc sauce. 'I'm a nerd,' he laughs, explaining how he follows recipes with the same meticulous attention he applies to his music. His love for cooking, much like his passion for jazz, is deeply rooted in discipline, craftsmanship, and an appreciation for the greats - Escoffier in the kitchen, the jazz masters in his music. Naidoo, now based in Switzerland, usually makes the journey home to South Africa only once a year, but he's looking to change that. This year's return is particularly special. Not only has he debuted a brand-new work at the Journey to Jazz festival in Prince Albert earlier this month, he has taken the Lights and the 'Freedom in Sound' tour across the country and has also started recording a new album. This marks the third album for his celebrated band. The 2025 Lights' set carries a particularly profound weight. As part of this tour performance, Naidoo unveiled an extraordinary piece that seamlessly fuses history with music. The production even features Nelson Mandela's original freedom speech, woven into the composition, a powerful tribute that essentially puts 'Mandela on vocals' - a stirring reminder of how history and music can echo through one another. There's also a deeply personal composition built on a chord progression entrusted to him by the late Bheki Mseleku more than two decades ago. 'This is my love letter to South African jazz,' Naidoo says. 'To its legends, its future, and its spirit. 'Jazz is not just a music genre for South Africans, it's a lifestyle.' Kesivan Naidoo, a Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year, and internationally acclaimed drummer, composer, and bandleader now based in Basel, is joined by a remarkable ensemble. Picture: Louis Botha for PACT Image: Louis Botha for PACT Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕
IOL News
10-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
A Moment in Music History: Kesivan and The Lights Record Live at the Baxter
Kesivan Naidoo, a Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year, and internationally acclaimed drummer, composer, and bandleader now based in Basel, is joined by a remarkable ensemble. Picture: Louis Botha for PACT The 'Freedom in Sound' national tour reaches its historic crescendo in the Mother City on Saturday, May 10, 2025, when Kesivan and The Lights take the stage at the iconic Baxter Concert Hall for one extraordinary night. A performance that will be captured live for the band's upcoming album and documentary, and you're invited to be part of the audience. Celebrating 30 years of South African democracy through jazz, this special concert marks the culmination of a powerful musical journey that began at Journey to Jazz in Prince Albert, swept through Durban and Johannesburg, and now comes home to Cape Town - where many of these jazz brothers first found their voices. But this isn't just another gig. This is an audience experience, where the energy in the room becomes part of the story. It's a rare opportunity to witness the making of a landmark album that honours South Africa's jazz giants - from Bheki Mseleku to Abdullah Ibrahim - while weaving in brand-new compositions and re-imaginings that speak to the present and future of this vibrant genre.
IOL News
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
‘Freedom in Sound' tour celebrates 30 years of South African democracy through Jazz
Experience the powerful fusion of rhythm and storytelling that pays tribute to the nation's past and future. Scroll down to stand a chance to win a set of double tickets to the May 10 performance at the Baxter. In a landmark celebration of South Africa's 30 years of democracy, South African award-winning drummer and composer Kesivan Naidoo and his acclaimed ensemble, Kesivan & The Lights, are set to embark on a national tour of the country titled 'Freedom in Sound'. In post-apartheid South Africa, jazz serves as a mirror to contemporary South African life, reflecting both the progress and ongoing challenges of democracy. Themes of social justice, economic inequality, and identity continue to shape the compositions of modern jazz musicians. During the apartheid era, when the government sought to control and silence dissent, jazz became a sonic weapon, carrying the stories, struggles, and aspirations of the oppressed to the world. Jazz in South Africa has long been more than just a genre of music—it has been a powerful force of resistance, a voice for the voiceless, and a cultural bridge between oppression and freedom. This dynamic musical journey will honour South Africa's rich jazz heritage to celebrate 30 years of democracy, while offering a fresh, modern interpretation of its jazz masters. restore all settings to the default values Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Seek to live, currently behind live The tour will premiere with a highly anticipated performance at Journey to Jazz, taking place from 1 to 4 May 2025 in Prince Albert. Following this, the band will take 'Freedom in Sound' across the country, bringing their powerful fusion of rhythm, improvisation, and storytelling to audiences nationwide. The tour will include performances at the following venues: May UKZN Centre for Jazz May Untitled Basement – JHB May The Chris Seabrooke Music Hall, Wits, JHB May Baxter Concert Hall, Cape Town A highlight of the tour will be the special live recording at the Baxter Concert Hall on 10 May 2025, capturing the energy and spirit of this extraordinary project for a new album. Fans are encouraged to be part of this momentous occasion and contribute to the electric atmosphere of this once-in-a-lifetime performance. Meet the stars of 'Freedom in Sound' Kesivan Naidoo - Drums & Bandleader A multi-award-winning drummer, composer, and jazz visionary, Kesivan has performed at prestigious venues worldwide, including Carnegie Hall, and is known for his innovative approach to South African jazz. Darren English - Trumpet An internationally acclaimed trumpeter and 2024 Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year, Darren has made waves in both the South African and US jazz scenes, blending technical brilliance with deep emotional expression. Bokani Dyer - Piano A Standard Bank Young Artist Award recipient and SAMA-winning jazz pianist and composer, Bokani's music bridges tradition with modern jazz, showcasing a distinct South African identity. Charley Rose - Saxophone One of Europe's most exciting saxophonists, Charley brings a fresh, expressive voice to the ensemble, effortlessly weaving between classic jazz traditions and contemporary experimentation. Fabio Gouvêa - Guitar A versatile and inventive guitarist, Fabio has performed with some of the biggest names in global jazz, adding a rhythmic and harmonic richness to the band's sound. Joan Codina - Bass A gifted bassist with a deep, resonant sound, Joan has performed extensively across Europe, bringing both groove and melodic sensitivity to the rhythm section. Reflecting on the tour, Kesivan shares, 'Music has always been at the heart of our nation's journey, a voice for resistance, resilience, and renewal. With 'Freedom in Sound,' we pay tribute to those who came before us while imagining the possibilities of our future'.
