Victor Ntoni
| Victor Ntoni | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Victor Mhleli Ntoni 1947 Langa, Western Cape, South Africa |
| Died | 2013 |
| Residence | Johannesburg South Africa |
| Occupation | Recording artist, jazz |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Children | 3 sons, 3 daughters |
|
Musical career | |
| Genres | Bassist, composer, Jazz, arranger |
| Instruments | Vocals, guitar |
| Labels | Gallo, Barclay |
| Associated acts | Paul Simon Mariam Makeba |
Victor Mhleli Ntoni (1947–2013) was born in Langa, Cape Town. He was a self-taught musician before he received a scholarship to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston in 1976. Among his notable achievements, Ntoni co-founded the Afro Cool Concept band in 1989 and received a nomination for the 2004 South African Music Awards SAMA and scored as well as arranged the music in the book "The South African Songbook -- SA Folklore Music".[1] His best known song is the hit “Wa thula nje”.[2] At the time of his death Ntoni had become a legend in the jazz community.[3]
Life and work
Ntoni grew up in the townships of Cape Town and first learned to play guitar before switching to double bass. As a teenager, he played with McCoy Mrubata in whose band The Uptown sextet together. As musical director of the musical Meropa he was in 1975 on a European tour. About the drummer Nelson Magwaza he met Abdullah Ibrahim know on whose album Peace and other recordings 1971-1979 he was involved. He took up with Kippie Moeketsi and initiated voluntary sextet before he studied at the Berklee School of Music, and in 1978 with Dudu Pukwana (Diamond Express) and 1979 played with Hugh Masekela, for which he also wrote compositions like Nomalizo.[4] Furthermore, he worked for Mike Ratau Mkhalemele, Iconoblast and Ezra Ngcukana. In the late 1980s, he was the musical director of the festival Carling Circle of Jazz. In 1989 he founded with Darius Brubeck, the band Afro Cool Concept, with whom he was on tour in North America, Italy and Thailand. At Mandela's release, he wrote the song The People Want Mandela. In the 1990s he was also with Hilton Schilder, Vusi Khumalo and Khaya Mahalngu to the experimental band Iconoclast. He also played with Ringo Madlingosa. His album Heritage (2004) received excellent reviews and was in the category "Best Contemporary Jazz Album" for the South African Music Award (SAMA) nomination. 2012 he wrote and arranged the music in The South African Songbook -. SA Folklore Music [3] in 2014 he was awarded the order of ikhamanga in silver.[5][2]
References
- ↑ "SABC News - Jazz legend Victor Ntoni dies :Monday 28 January 2013". Sabc.co.za. 2013-01-28. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
- 1 2 "RIP Victor Ntoni: True gentleman of jazz | Evan Milton: Words on music (and miscellany)". Evanmilton.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
- ↑ "legend Victor Ntoni dies at the Helen Joseph Hospital in Johannesburg | South African History Online". Sahistory.org.za. 2013-01-28. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
- ↑ "Victor Ntoni Discography". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
- ↑ "Jazz bassist Victor Ntoni dies aged 65". Timeslive.co.za. Retrieved 2015-06-19.