The Makanda Project Summer Concert: Remembering Ndikho Xaba

The Makanda Project will present a special tribute to South African musician, composer, and activist Ndikho Xaba (1934-2019), who passed away on June 11 after a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.  Mr. Xaba, who spent over three decades in exile in the U.S. during apartheid, was unique in his fusing of South African music with the more forward-looking forms of American jazz.  Several of his compositions, arranged by John Kordalewski, have been in the Makanda Project’s repertoire for the past few years.  For this concert the group will be joined by saxophonist Plunky Branch, who recorded with Mr. Xaba in the 1970s.  The event will also include live painting sponsored by MassArt’s sparc! the ArtMobile, arts and crafts vendors, youth performances, and more.  Kurtis Rivers, Paavo Carey, Plunky Branch, Arni Cheatham, Sean Berry, Charlie Kohlhase (saxophones); Jerry Sabatini, Haneef Nelson (trumpets); Ku-umba Frank Lacy, Tyler Bonilla, Alfred Patterson (trombones); John Kordalewski (piano); Wes Brown (bass); Warren Smith (drums).