Line-Up: Thandi Ntuli Sextet

5pm Door
7pm Concert

Thandi Ntuli Sextet

Thandi Ntuli: piano/vocals
Lukas Thoeni: trumpet
Benedikt Reising: alto sax
Keenan Ahrends: guitar
Shane Cooper: bass
Sphelelo Mazibuko: drums

Born in 1987, Thandi Ntuli has rocketed to the upper echelons of the South African jazz scene. In her home country, the outstanding and expressive pianist, vocalist and composer was recently named Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year, as well as receiving other prizes. She is part of a new generation of South African musicians who have grown up with a mix of South African and American jazz while remaining firmly rooted in traditional African music, and blend these three elements with natural elegance and ease. In her compositions she develops simple, meditative themes and enhances them with flawless aesthetics that spiral around constant new harmonies and variations. Charismatic and convincing, Thandi Ntuli successfully opens up the emotional side of jazz to her audience, with no shortage of intellectuality. As a vocalist, too, she never fails to impress with her warm, intense and expressive voice.
Following her first brief visit and performances at the Jazz Campus in February 2018, Thandi Ntuli now returns to Basel as Artist in Residence, joined by her high-calibre rhythm section from Johannesburg, with the superb local wind players Benedikt Reising and Lukas Thoeni ideally completing the group.