Bassist and UKZN alumnus Lex Futshane live at Jazz Centre

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Double Bassist Lex Futshane was featured at the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music on Wednesday 26 March.

Futshane headed up a four-piece band consisting of UKZN Music Lecturer Mr Neil Gonsalves on piano, Sidney Rash on drums and Zoe “The Seed” Masuku on vocals.

The exciting band performed a diverse and versatile programme from Futshane’s own compositions to home grown Mbhaqanga, contemporary music and arrangements of jazz standards by local and international artists.

Futshane is a Composer, Arranger, Educator, Performer and an internationally proclaimed Bassist (electric and acoustic), who has spent many years in Durban performing, arranging music and lecturing in the Music Departments at UKZN and the Durban University of Technology (DUT).

He has a Master’s degree in Music from the former University of Natal (UN), completing his BMus at UKZN. He taught music part-time at both UN and the former University of Durban-Westville but also worked as a full-time employee in the AV section at UKZN.

He played bass and co-arranged on many recordings such as Art Gecko by Counterculture, Durban Noise by Jurgen Brauninger, African Tributes by NU Jazz Connection, Old Blue Balls Is Back by Felema and Before it’s Too Late by Darius Brubeck.

Futshane has played alongside many South African musicians including Winston “Mankunku” Ngozi, Bheki Mseleku, Zim Ngqawana, Feya Faku, Tu Nokwe, Neil Gonsalves, Melvin Peters, Andrew Tracy, Kevin Gibson and Ezra Ngcukana.

UKZN Music Lecturer Mr Neil Gonsalves said: ‘I look forward to renewing my association with my old friend and mentor, Lex Futshane. He is from New Brighton in the Eastern Cape which is the home of many highly impactful South African jazz players including UKZN alumni Feya Faku, the late Zim Ngqawana and Lulu Gontsana. So, he represents an extremely important link and voice within that tradition. I’m especially excited to be playing Lex’s compositions with a new generation of exceptional jazz talent in UKZN alumni Zoe Masusku and Sidney Rash.’

- Melissa Mungroo