Bassist Featured at Centre for Jazz and Popular Music

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Durban-based Mozambican Bassist and UKZN Masters in Jazz student Mr Ildo Nandja was on stage at the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music (CJPM).

Nandja’s band features Shemual Mahabeer (piano), Sbu Zondi (drums), Professor Salim Washington (sax) and George Mari (trumpet).

Nandja is a regular on the CJPM stage because of his collaborations with various local and international performers.

Growing up in Mozambique, Nandja became the first musician in his family beginning as a percussionist before taking up the bass and following a music degree at UKZN.

‘It wasn’t easy to tell my parents that I wanted to be a musician but they were fairly accepting of my career choice. They could see that I was able to generate income from my music, even at a young age,’ he said.

Nandja’s latest CJMP performance comprised an exclusive selection of recent compositions which combine the musician’s mastery of the double bass with his vocal abilities.

The arrangements derive inspiration from traditional Mozambican and African music as well as jazz, Latin and contemporary styles. Nandja explored these genres with his own unique and harmonious flair with audiences being treated to a night of pan-African music and rhythm.

-          Melissa Mungroo