LIVE at Piedmont Piano Company
Thembi Dunjana
Thembi Dunjana, a female jazz pianist from South Africa, draws inspiration from her musical heroes McCoy Tyner and Moses Molelekwa in a solo piano set that explores her own compositions and reimagined jazz standards. This solo performance explores the parallels between African and American jazz music through rhythm and harmony. Expect infectious rhythms and familiar yet reinterpreted melodies.
$25 General Admission
We are offering a limited number of tickets to attend this performance in person. Advance purchase is recommended.
"Dunjana demonstrates a marvellous balance of facility and thorough commitment, without projecting a wrestling match with the muses." –Downbeat review of God Bless iKapa. God Bless Mzantsi.
"...a stunner... The sophomore album from the rising-star pianist and vocalist finds strong footing in fertile sounds and soil. A paean to her homeland—"iKapa" and "Mzantsi" translate to "Cape Town" and "South Africa," respectively, when moving from ixiXhosa to English—it proves to be a work of incredible pride and vision. Across ten tracks, Dunjana reveals all of the beauty, mystery, magic and warmth connected to the environment that nurtured and supported her..." –Dan Bilavsky, All About Jazz review of God Bless iKapa. God Bless Mzantsi.
THEMBI DUNJANA
One of South Africa’s most extraordinary piano talents, Thembi Dunjana has established herself as a rising star in Cape Town’s rich Jazz scene. Drawing upon varied influences that range from the American influences of John Coltrane, Erykah Badu, Horace Silver, and McCoy Tyner to South African legends like Moses Molelekwa and Bheki Mseleku, Thembi grew up in a highly musical household. Settling on Jazz piano later, once studying at the University of Cape Town, she rapidly established herself as one of the city’s truly innovative and fresh new voices both as a pianist and as a vocalist.
Thembi released her debut album Intyatyambo in 2020. An ambitious 2-disc set that explores musical paths ranging from neo soul to Cape Town’s ghoema to hard-swinging Jazz, Intyatyambo earned Thembi rightful accolades across South Africa’s Jazz press, before winning her two Mzantsi Jazz Awards for Best Female Artist and Best Jazz Song in 2021.
Building upon the win, Thembi performed at South Africa’s prestigious Jazz festivals and increasingly has built her own international profile, with appearances at the Oslo Jazz Festival as well as a United States debut at Jazz at Lincoln Center.
With her follow-up album God Bless iKapa. God Bless Mzantsi., Thembi unites American and South African artists together in a magnificent quintet, performing original works that highlight her singular vision and extraordinary journey as an artist. thembidunjana.bandcamp.com | instagram.com/thembi.dunjana | facebook.com/thembie.dunjana
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