Tag Archives: Bakithi Kumalo

Alto (and sometimes soprano) saxophonist Jay Beckenstein founded the highly successful crossover jazz clothing Spyro Gyra in 1974 and led the group throughout greater than a quarter-century tenure. Beckenstein was raised inside a musical family members — his mom was an opera vocalist, his dad a jazz buff — and …

In his home country of South Africa, singer/songwriter Vusi Mahlasela is fondly referred to as “The Voice.” His fellow countrywoman, the article writer Nadine Gordimer, once stated about him: “Vusi Mahlasela sings like a parrot does: altogether response to becoming alive.” Aside from his amazing songwriting skill, Mahlasela is actually …