Edward Tsumele

Edward Tsumele

Opera-trained jazz diva Sibongile Khumalo is poised to give her multitude of fans a great evening at the Birchwood Executive Hotel tonight.

The concert, Ekurhuleni Comes Alive, will also feature South African-born veteran musician, Julian Bahula, who is now based in London.

This is definitely a must-see concert, whichever way one looks at it. The concert is sure to attract several discerning music lovers from the length and breadth of the country.

I have personally over the years experienced the stage aura of Khumalo, pictured, her infectious sounds and the confidence and respect she demands once on stage. There is no reason to believe that this one will be any different.

Khumalo has a collection of classics that are sure to touch the hearts of many, and introduce those not familiar with her sounds to a rich repository of South African music.

Though trained in the opera music genre, this works well when the respected musician applies the strict skills of voice control, as required in opera, into the more flexible jazz genre.

It is this ability and flexibility of using her well-trained opera voice in jazz music that has endeared her to jazz fans in this country.

Though Khumalo has performed and enthralled many fans at outdoor jazz festivals, her music is devoured even better in an intimate indoor environment such as the one that exists at the Birchwood Hotel on the East Rand.

Khumalo is, however, a junior in terms of the years she has spent as a performer compared to the Malombo veteran, Bahula. And this evening can best be defined as the blending of young blood with old blood, tried and seasoned music sounds with young and fresh sounds.

It will be like tapping into the past musical heritage and taking it into the future.

One thing is clear about this concert though - by the time the two artists quit the stage, fans would have had a great evening, blessed by two of the country's talented musicians.