Jazz Preview: Illuminating legacy of South Africa piano man

Bheki Mseleku, the South African pianist who never quite achieved the international prominence his talent deserved, is remembered by a sextet led by Britain’s John Donaldson which makes two Yorkshire appearances next week.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Mar 2011, 10:00 BST

Mseleku, who died in 2008, deserved to be ranked alongside his compatriots Abdullah Ibrahim and Hugh Masakela but a combination of ill-health and insufficient recognition meant his full potential was not realised.

He left a rich musical legacy, however, and Donaldson – a fellow pianist who regarded him as a friend as well as an inspiration – delves into that with a group which includes alto saxophonist Peter King, trumpeter Quentin Collins, tenor saxophonist Ian Price and drummer Tristan Banks.

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Donaldson and his sextet appear at Seven Jazz in Chapel Allerton, Leeds, on Thursday and Sheffield Jazz at the Millennium Hall the following evening. Quentin Collins teams up with saxophonist Brandon Allen in a quartet completed by organist Ross Stanley and drummer Enzo Zirilli at Wakefield Jazz tonight, while tomorrow finds the stylish Todd Gordon taking a discriminating dip into the Great American Songbook for Huddersfield Jazz at the Lawrence Batley Theatre.

With Spring almost upon us and the festival season taking shape, it’s worth making a note of Cleethorpes (July 1-3), Hull (July 21-31), Burton Agnes (Aug 5-7) and Scarborough (Sept 23-25). More later.

Related topics:BritainSouth AfricaYorkshire