Rainbow Restaurant Est.1981
23 Stanfield Lane
Pinetown
Contact details: 031 702 9161 or 083 463 8044; bandwagon@artslink.co.za ; www.therainbow.co.za
DATE: Sunday 1 November 2009
TIME: Doors open at 12pm, 1st set just after 1pm
TICKETS: R40 presale or R50 at the door
EVENT: The Umkhumbane Ensemble in a Tribute to Winston “Mankunku” Ngozi
This concert was booked a long time before we got the sad news of the passing of one of the Rainbow’s favourite jazz legends, Winston “Mankunku” Ngozi on the 13th of October. We have spoken to Mankunku’s manager, Chris Syren at Making Music, and he has given us the go ahead to present this concert as a tribute and I have personally asked the band to include some of his classics, including that great anti-apartheid anthem Yakhal’inkhomo. When you see the line-up below, you will understand why it made perfect sense and why they are the perfect band for such a tribute. Appropriately, there will be a tribute to Mankunku in Cape Town on the 31st of October, the day before our local tribute.
The reason why the Umkhumbane Ensemble is the perfect band is because it features a wonderful selection of some of our locally based jazz legends as well as a few upcoming stars. (Although one wouldn’t think so when one considers that the reason it has taken so long to go to press with this concert is because we have been trying to raise some sort of sponsorship to ensure that these local legends, who have long passed paid their dues, know they will be adequately paid before the gig rather than having to wait and see what comes in at the door on the day. Seems like our local liquor companies are more interested in spending millions on bringing American R&B stars to our city than actually giving a bit back to an historic venue like the Rainbow which, besides the music we present, also enables them to sell a good few million rand’s worth of product every year)
The line-up of the band is: Jerry Kunene and Muntu Dube on Alto saxophones; S’thembiso Ntuli and Moses Sefatsa on tenor saxophones; Bheki Luthuli and Eric Duma on trumpets; Theo Bophela on piano; Mdu Mahlobo on guitar; Zithulele Dlamini on drums; KB Maphumulo on bass; Nothando Madondo on trombone and vocals; and Adolph Kunene on vocals.
Is there anything more I can tell you before you are convinced that this will once again be another memorable Sunday afternoon at the Rainbow – just like those many Sunday’s passed when Mankunku graced our stage? RIP
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WELL SAID!!!! “(Seems like our local liquor companies are more interested in spending millions on bringing American R&B stars to our city than actually giving a bit back to an historic venue like the Rainbow which, besides the music we present, also enables them to sell a good few million rand’s worth of product every year)”. I run an establishment in Tshwane and I have had similar experiences with the liquor companies in this country. I have been supporting local jazz musicians in Gauteng and will continue to do so, without a sponsor. If they ever come on board, it will be fine. If they don’t, it will still be fine. My support for local jazz musicians will continue in the same spirit as our struggle continued during the apartheid era. I have featured, among others, our McCoy Mrubata; Selaelo Selota; Lucas Senyatso; Andile Yenana; Sasha Sonnbichler; Paul Hanmer; Lebo Mogale Band; Karo Band (from the DRC) and many others. We can’t stop supporting our local jazz acts because the liquor companies are focusing on supporting tired American artists. Let’s all support out local jazz artists….