iLadi (Blue Note)
Linda Sikhakhane
Released July 2024
DownBeat Four-and-a-Half-Star Review
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https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_lIZ6N8rIWUl35BsCySpl_4f56rX2X0ChQ
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About:
South African saxophonist Linda Sikhakhane has released his new album Iladi via Blue Note/Universal Music Africa. The album was produced by Sikhakhane’s frequent collaborator Nduduzo Makhathini who is also featured on piano with Zwelakhe-Duma Bell le Pere on bass and Kweku Sumbry on drums. Iladi presents eight evocative original compositions by Sikhakhane including the stunning lead single “Inkehli.”
“Iladi is a multipurpose ritual ceremony that is underpinned by various African cultural pearls of wisdom, cited from Zulu traditions and my upbringing,” says Sikhakhane. “This offering is a sonic transposition of this ritual, an expression of gratitude that seeks to acknowledge all gifts and guidance on my journey.”
Hailing from Umlazi Township near Durban, South Africa, and tracing ancestry to KwaNongoma (“place of the diviner or mother of song”), Sikhakhane’s journey into music began at a young age, nurtured by a rich cultural heritage and an innate passion for sound. His music epitomizes the vibrant evolution of South Africa’s jazz landscape with inspiration drawn from such greats such as John Coltrane and Winston Mankunku Ngozi. His exceptional skill on the saxophone, honed through formal education and collaborations with renowned artists both locally and internationally, has positioned him as a rising star on the global jazz stage. Sikhakhane was honored as the 2022 Standard Bank Young Jazz Artist.
Track Listing:
1. iGosa (Nduduzo Makhathini / Linda Sikhakhane) 06:54
2. Inkehli (Nduduzo Makhathini / Linda Sikhakhane) 06:53
3. Ukukhushulwa (Nduduzo Makhathini / Linda Sikhakhane) 05:40
4. Umhlahlandlela (Nduduzo Makhathini / Linda Sikhakhane) feat: Nduduzo Makhathini 04:51
5. Indatshana (Nduduzo Makhathini / Linda Sikhakhane) 04:27
6. Mama (Nduduzo Makhathini / Linda Sikhakhane) 05:51
7. Influential Moments [Revisited] (Nduduzo Makhathini / Linda Sikhakhane) 08:42
8. Ecako (Nduduzo Makhathini / Linda Sikhakhane) 05:10
Personnel:
Linda Sikhakhane: tenor saxophone (1, 2, 4-8), soprano saxophone (3)
Nduduzo Makhathini: piano
Zwelakhe-Duma Bell le Pere: double bass
Kweku Sumbry: drums
Rocerded June 2023, at Milestone Studios in Cape Town, South Africa
Produced by Nduduzo Makhathini
Recording Engineer: Jethro Harris
Assistant Engineers: André Hough and Mathew Thiem
Studio Manager: Claire Anderson
Mixinh & Mastering: Peter Pearlson
Album Cover Design: Odd Media
Cover Image: Malwandla Rikhotso
Review:
That’s certainly the case with the formidable tenor man Linda Sikhakhane on his latest, Iladi whose cast notably includes his dynamic and much-noted countryman pianist Nduduzo Makhathini. Bassist Zwelakhe-Duma Bell le Pere and D.C.based drummer Kweku Sumbry round out this cohesive cast. A native of the Kwa-Zulu Natal region around Durban, Sikhakane plays a rich tenor blessed with a kind of restrained boldness. Makhathini’s insistent piano chords provide a rich subtext throughout this release, particularly illustrated by the original “Influential Moments.” Like Mrubata, Sikhakhane pays homage to the late Cape Town tenor great Winston Mankunku Ngozi on the short tale “Idatshana,” a piece designed to invoke African folktales. “Mama,” with its tender piano chords, is a fitting tributary ballad and wistful remembrance on which the leader achieves some attractive, restrained vibrato in his horn. The piece “Umhlahlandela” is a lovely ballad, thematically illustrative of a productive master-disciple relationship, with Makhathini exhibiting shades of his Randy Weston influence.
Willard Jenkins (DownBeat)
