SHARON TO GHANA

Popular singer/guitarist Sharon Katz, the initiator of the successful Peace Train project, is to take up aposition at the International Centre for African Music and Dance at the University of Ghana.

At present on the next leg of her tour which is taking her throughout Africa and to parts of Europe andAmerica lobbying for relevant development projects, Sharon will work side-by-side with internationallyrenowned musician, author and ethnomusicologist, Professor JH Kwabena Nketia. Her portfolio willinclude promoting the development and recording of music from throughout Africa; demonstrationprojects in the use of African music in music therapy, and hosting a radio programme.

Musicians interested in the project or in having their CD or cassette aired on her radio programme cancontact Sharon at the International Centre for African Music and Dance, University of Ghana, PO Box19, Legon-Accra, Ghana.

DURBAN ARTS LUNCH HOURS

If you live or work in town make sure you don't miss the Durban Arts lunch-hour concerts on the CityHall steps on Wednesdays at 13h00. This month's programme collated by Patrick Zungu offers muchvariety and excitement.

Jul 1: VEZ'KHONO SIKOLETHU ZULU DANCERS - four talented perfor-mers from KwaMashu.

Jul 8: FORTUNE XABA - saxophone player who was a '96 Shell Road to Fame winner. Currentlyappearing at the Royal Hotel, he will present a pro-gramme of jazz fusion including music by GrooveWesley, Gerald Albright and the BeeGees as well as some of his own compositions.

Jul 15: MIGHTY CLOUD OF PEACE - a well known Clermont gospel group which providesentertaining dancing.

Jul 22: DURBAN MIX - a kwaito outfit from Emlazi keen to entertain the lunch hour crowd, led bySaziso Hlongwane.

Jul 29: U-SKELETON - hail from KwaMashu and play mas'kanda music.

For more details about Durban Arts lunch-hour concerts, contact Patrick Zungu on 23-1236.

BAT MUSIC

South Africa's finest musicians appear at the BAT Centre in July.

To start the month off with a bang, from July 1 to 4, the legendary Johnny Clegg and Sipho Mchunu,who touched thou-sands with Juluka in the 80's, can be seen in action. They last played together inDurban at the ICC launch to a sell-out audience and now they're bringing their music to BAT for a stringof intimate "unplugged" gigs. Tickets only from BAT at R55 pre-sale, or R60 at the door. Early bookingis advisable!

July 11 sees some of the finest of the new generation of rock musicians, whose songs reflect life in SouthAfrica, together in concert at BAT. Scooters Union, Sunways and Chris Letcher and Matthew van derWant are leaders of this revolution of sound. Tickets are R30, but watch out for a flier. If you have one,you can get in for R20!

RAINBAT

The Rainbat project takes place from July 17 to 19. After winning two SAMA awards this year, onebeing Song of the Year for Sondela, top SA musician Ringo returns to Durban to perform his latest Afro-pop masterpieces. Tickets are R25 pre-sale or R30 at the door.

On July 15, Castle Milk Stout presents the University of South Florida Jazz Combo under the directionof Jack Wilkins. Tickets at R20.

TANANA'S

The original Tanana's perform together again for two shows on July 30 and 31. The line up includesSteve Newman, Ian Herman and Gito Baloi. Supporting Tanana's is the band Naked featuring KaolinThompson. Tickets for this show are R35 pre-sale or R40 at the door.

For more information call the BAT Centre on 332-0451.

ARAGON RECITAL

On July 11, the Friends of Music will present a recital by the distinguished Spanish mezzo soprano,Maria Aragon, accompanied on the piano by Fernando Turina at 20h00 at the Durban Jewish Club,Major Hall.

This recital is being presented by the Spanish Embassy in conjunction with Iberia, Unitrans and CDMC.

A long-awaited highlight on the FOM programme was to be the famous Dutch Swing College Band butdue to unfore-seen circumstances the DSCB have had to cancel their recitals nationwide. An alternativedate will be announced soon.

FUNDRAISING CONCERT

Four years ago, two enthusiastic and passionate musicians decided to use steel drums to teach schoolchildren how to enjoy music.

With their unique approach, Bryan Clarke and Dobri Paliev from the KZN Philharmonic Orchestraopened the door to the magical world of music for many KZN children.

They will host a fundraising concert on August 25 at the DLI Hall in Greyville featuring Sacred HeartSecondary and St Mary's High School and offer a pro-gramme of light, enjoyable classics in support ofa worthy cause.

Contact Bryan on 083 777 6762 or Dobri on 083 777 6743.

Tickets available at the door.

SIMUNYE

Durban will play host to a most unusual music happening on July 15 at St Paul's Church at 19h30.

The Harmonious World Tour features a collaboration between a vocal ensemble from Oxford - I-Fagiolini, one of Britain's most accomplished young solo-voice ensembles - and the Soweto youth choir,the SDASA Chorale.

After hosting a workshop in the after-noon, they will appear in concert. This is the culmination of anongoing project masterminded by Pretoria-based music manager Brett Pyper who has been working onthis cross-cultural project for three years.

The groups have jointly produced a CD and cassette on the Gallo label, entitled Simunye which offersa unique fusion of European and African acapella music.

PLAY FOR PLEASURE

Visitors with musical talent to the NBS House & Garden Show which takes place at the DurbanExhibition Centre from July 10 to 19 can take part in the Playing for Pleasure piano competition atLona's Piano's stand. Pianists stand a chance to win interesting prizes, not to mention gaining anappreciative audience!

Contact the organisers on 202-7622.

DRUMMING CIRCLE

Every Tesuday evening, the BAT Centre hosts a drumming circle with Richard Ellis at 19h30. Takealong your own percussion - anything but drum kits!

WINTER SEASON

The KZN Philharmonic Orchestra's final concert in its World Symphony Series winter season takes placeon July 2 at 19h30 in the City Hall.

Featuring celebrated Israeli violinist Shlomo Mintz as both conductor and soloist, this special concertmarks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the State of Israel.

Included in the programme will be Bizet's Petite Suite from Jeux d'enfants, opus 22, Mendelssohn'sViolin Concerto in E minor, opus 64 and Dvorak's Symphony No 7 in D minor opus 70.

The Spring Season begins on September 17. Call Anne on 369-9404 for details on how to become aWorld Symphony Series subscriber.

(NB: The KZNPO will be performing at "Seriously Splashy" at Splashy Fen on September 26.

ABBA GOLD

Abba Gold, direct from Sweden where they accompanied the original ABBA group, will perform in thePlayhouse Opera from July 14 to 16.

Mike Hewitt, Gary Jones, Suzanne Aycliffe and Claire Webster are talented musicians with a repertoireof popular ABBA favourites.

ROLLING RHYTHMS

With drumming and percussion gaining popularity the world over, a drumming experience will takeplace in the Playhouse Drama Theatre on July 25 at 19h30 with Rolling Rhythms.

This dynamic evening of rhythm includes the Interitmo Drummers, led by Mike Mazzoni, popularpercussionist Richard Ellis and the classical Indian drummers of Umdasa. From West to East, conga totabla, djembe to funk, samba to techno, Rolling Rhythms guarantees exhilaration.

Spearheaded by the Playhouse Company's education and development department, Rolling Rhythmstook place last year in the Playhouse Grand Foyer. The demand for tickets was so great that this yearthe production is booked into the larger Playhouse Drama.

Tickets are R25 with a discounted block booking rate of R20 for more than 10 tickets. To book callAnriette Chorn on 369-9440.

NB Internet-browsers should check out an interview with Mike Mazzoni from July 20 to 25 atwww.kznet.co.za the site of Durban's new music-oriented Internet-based radio station, KZNet Radio.

FAUST

Opera Africa's latest opera production, Gounod's Faust, premieres in the Uni-versity of Zululand's 5 000-seater Bhekuzulu Hall on July 30 before moving to the Emandleni Hall, Ulundi, and then to Newcastleand Soweto.

Opera Africa's founder/producer Sandra de Villiers says it was decided to premiere Faust in areasoutside of Durban after numerous requests were received from music-loving communities to be givenopportunities to attend opera.

"It seems our first productions of Mozart's Magic Flute and Bizet's Carmen dispelled many preconceivedviews that opera is elitist, urban and Eurocentric with no relevance what-soever to Africa," says Sandrade Villiers. "I am hoping that our Faust will do even more to put an end to those fallacies wherever theymay exist on a much wider canvas," she said.

Well-known German conductor Gerard Geist conducts an ad-hoc orchestra. Andrew Verster has designedthe sets and costumes. Hein de Villiers will be the company's musical director and Themi Venturas isoverall director.

Noted American tenor Drew Abbott takes the title role, supported by Linda Bukhosini, RaphaelVilakazi, John Butler and Bronwyn Forbay. The 70-strong chorus will feature Zululand's CantataChorale group.

Contact 261-6708 or cell 083-795-5444.

MUSIC MAGIC

The Westville Theatre Club will host Music Magic, described as a magical musical extravaganza in thefirst two weeks of September at the Westville Civic Centre. Details from Dave Burch on 21-0500.

ILE DE FRANCE

Accompanying a silent movie, as in the days of the old cinema organ, is a project the Orchestre Nationald'Ile de France would like to bring to South Africa next year.

Formed in 1974 and one of the youngest orchestras in Europe, the Ile de France orchestra performsapproximately 100 concerts a year on a ratio of 70 concerts within the Ile de France area and 30 concertsin a 50km radius around Paris. It has a wide touring schedule and, like our own KZN PhilharmonicOrchestra musicians, members are used to perfor-ming in a variety of venues.

The orchestra aims to raise sponsorship to appear at the 1999 Standard Bank National Arts Festival inGrahamstown and to stay on to tour South Africa.

"We would like to find the right links between two very different countries," said the orchestra'sadministrator general, Phillippe Fanjas, on a recent visit to Durban. "The idea is to select about threedifferent programmes, such as traditional French music - mainly Ravel or 20th century works - and achoral work as well as a commissioned piece from someone like Thierry Pecon, a young Frenchcomposer who has had much experience of traditional music and ritual in South America.

"We would also like to do a programme we have done many times before which involves a silent moviemade in America in 1916 called Intolerance directed by D W Griffith," says Fanjas. "Here the orchestraaccompanies the film with a piece written by two French composers in 1985. In other words, theorchestra virtually plays a live soundtrack. And the conductor follows a score that is marked numericallywith time sequences much like a dubbing script."

While in Durban, Philippe Fanjas had discussions with KZNPO director Bongani Thembe. So, maybeDurban will be lucky enough to host the French orchestra next year.

(Ed. Note: What a joy it would be to see the two orchestras working together on the same stage. Thereare pieces written for two orchestras and Philippe Fanjas promised to consider the idea when hereturned home to France!)

SUNSET PROMS

For a fun evening of popular music in the open air, book for the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra'sNBS Sunset Proms held in Kingsmead Cricket Stadium on July 5 at 17h30.

MELINDI CHARLE

Melindi Charle started her singing career at the age of four and has been perfor-ming ever since. Sherecently recorded her debut album Ydelmens and hopes to release her second CD, Fire in the Dark, laterthis year.

As the D'ARTS team's Afrikaans is not proficient enough, we asked Troubadour music agent PatrickCollyer for his comments.

"Melindi Charle's four-song debut CD Ydelmens makes for pleasant listening," he comments, "even ifthe end result is a little clinical and lacking in soul. Her cover versions of well-known numbers such asSonder Jou (Gé Korsten) and Ek verlang na jou (Sonja Heroldt) are somewhat tentative, almost as ifin awe of the originals. A bolder, more robust approach might well have proved to have been worth thegamble. Her own Ydelmens, thoughtful in mood and subject matter, shows promise but I felt that themelody with its "country" feel was somewhat at odds with the lyrics. Still, there is an undeniable girl-next-door charm to this mini collection."

Ydelmans can be obtained by contacting Melindi on telefax (011) 425-3843.

DURBAN FOLK CLUB

The Durban Folk Club meets on Mondays at the Tusk Inn, 103 Sarnia Road at 20h00. Entrance R7(members R3). The programme for July is:

Scooters Union, the highly popular 3-piece rock band (July 6): Mathew van der Want and Chris Letcher,an irreve-rent duo! (July 13); Oil and Water, a four-piece original roots, folk and pop band (July 20),and Caffeine Substitute featuring Megan McRae (July 27).

Details from Adi Paxton on 21-2515.

THE BEST OF '97

The Standard Bank Jazz Festival is one of the highlights of the Grahamstown festival. If you can'texperience the real thing, the recently-released CD The Best of '97 comes a very close second. It's acompilation of some of the best moments of the 1997 festival.

All the music on this album was recor-ded live on 8 track digital ADAT tape - an excellent job by DaveBongers and Mark Claravet, considering the limitations of the venue. Mix, mastering and post-production was by Dirk van Straaten at the Music Room Studios.

The CD is notable because it features what is probably the last recording Walter Bishop Jr made beforehis death in January this year. This exceptional American jazz pianist performed with Miles Davis andCharlie Parker, hence his Owed to Bird on the CD.

Also featured is Harold Jefta's sensuous sax playing as well as piano sequences from the incomparableDave Lithins.

Other artists appearing on the album are the Cape Goema Orchestra, Afro-Cool Concept, Tu Nokwe,BoereQanga, Mike Rossi, Gito Baloi, Georgette Fry, Marcus Wyatt and Winston Mankunku.

The Best of '97 is available from Musica and Look & Listen outlets.

THOKOZANI CONCERT

The 70-strong Thokozani Chorale Society, founded in 1993, was consi-dered among local outstandingexponents of choral music by George Nisbet when he was Durban Arts music co-ordinator.

The choir appear in concert with the New Hampshire Friendship Chorus as well as internationalmusicians from New Hampshire, Nevada, North Carolina, Maine and Massachusetts at the Playhouseon July 1 from 18h00 to 22h00. Book at Computicket.

CAMELOT MUSIC

Suzanne Atwill (soprano), Norman Hesom (pianist) and Morgan Crosby (tenor) present operetta andstage music in aid of Hospice at Evesham Castle, Camelot estate in Hillcrest, on July 5 from 14h30 to16h00. Suzanne and Norman present a successful ABC of Song series in which Morgan has performedas guest artist.

Take picnic baskets, perhaps some wine, cushions or blankets for seating and enjoy the programme onthe lawn below Evesham Castle and Rosehaven. There is no booking, so get there early.

Directions: From Hillcrest centre, take the Inanda Road. Turn into West Riding Road, park and gothrough the gate.

HIDDEN YEARS

David Marks and Alan Judd will present their Hidden Years Project 1998 on the fringe festival. Thisis a collection of old and new songs with recorded anecdotes and up to date arrangements featuringvarious 3rd Ear Music musicians whose music was "avoided, restricted or banned" during the apartheidyears.

3rd Ear Music aim to re-issue many of the folk, jazz and rock artists it has col-lected since 1964 as CD's,a syndicated radio programme and TV documentary.

Many of The Hidden Years musicians are still performing in shows and concerts. Roger Lucey, LefifiTladi, Julian Bahula, Colin Shamley and Syd Kitchen have seen a revival and interest in their words andmusic that was largely ignored by the mainstream record industry and the SABC.

David Marks and Alan Judd's Hidden Years ranges from a duo to a 15 piece band that appeared at the'97 Woodstock reunion, USA. At the suggestion of a New York journalist, who saw the band play in theUSA last year, David and Alan are working on producing a thea-trical production of the Hidden Years.