Virtuoso violinist jazzes things up

JAZZ violinist Tshepo Mngoma, who graced the stage at the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square in Sandton, Johannesburg, yesterday, enchanted the fans.

The artist who trained in both classical music and contemporary jazz at the University of Cape Town performed at the newly established Old Mutual Jazz Evenings.

He played music from his first album People and Places and also gave fans a taste of his new album The Journey. Though Mngoma is at ease playing in an orchestra, something he does frequently as a freelance musician, he also plays contemporary jazz, which he finds more exciting.

"I actually did classical music at university as part of the University of Cape Town Orchestra, but it is in the contemporary jazz genre that I am more comfortable," he said.

"It is in this genre where my creative juices come out quite naturally as contemporary jazz calls for one to improvise right on the spot. I simply love the process of improvisation," the musician who majored in jazz studies said.

Mngoma said the South African music industry has not been spared by the global recession.

"We have all been hit by the recession, but in my company we do not sit down and wait for the shops to sell CDs," Mngoma said.

"We actually go out and sell CDs during performances and at any other opportunity we have," he said.