Photographer: Lerato Pakade
Affectionately known as "Malume", Herbie Tsoaeli is a bassist, composer, arranger and a 2013 Best Jazz Album South African Music Award winner, for his debut album African Time.
The incomparable jazz musician, is considered as one of South Africa’s leading bass maestros and hails from Nyanga East, in Cape Town – one of the more politically charged black locations in the Western Cape.
Coming from this community at the forefront of producing South Africa’s rich jazz legacy - rooted in his biographical experiences - his music is a nuanced expression of the black community.
His latest album is available on all streaming platforms
SPIRITUAL DIALOGUES
Herbie Tsoaeli refers to his music as a spiritual experience and has coined the term “Jazz Moya” which means Jazz influenced by spirits, to describe it. He has shared the stage with South African Jazz greats such as Abdullah Ibrahim, Zim Ngqawana, Bheki Mseleku, Louis Moholo, and Winston Mankunku Ngozi.
Photographer: Lerato Pakade
“When I play, I’m travelling in the realm of the old spirits.”
- Herbie Tsoaeli
Discography
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African Time (2012)
“African Time celebrates a life of dedicated submission to a musical art form that has been known to heal and inspire. This is a spiritual musical journey - it does not matter how you define it, or where you practice it. This is a spirited work by men and women who dedicate their lives to create life-affirming music. It will touch you, and even make you dance. It is art with the intention of uplifting - an eloquent musical depiction of who we are and what we could become.”
- Steve Kwena Mokwena
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African Time Quartet in Concert (2014)
“African Time Live, the album is further confirmation of Herbie Tsoaeli's extraordinary musicianship. The creativity unfolds freely, held tight by years of experience in a beautiful musical fellowship. African Time is a musical philosophy that celebrates the strong African Jazz legacy. It is an intuition. Led by the Master himself on bass, percussion and voice, the quartet is made up of Sisonke Xonti on saxophones, Ayanda Sikade on drums and Nduduzo Makhathini on piano.”
- Steve Kwena Mokwena
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At This Point in Time (2021)
“To create mood and anticipation, the songs in this album utilise varied musical patterns and clusters. With arrangements that allow one instrument to play tacet before other players and voices come in, the bassist is able to create interplays of musical envelopes. Sometimes there is a need to pause, sit still, reflect and reconnect.”
- Dinga Sikwebu
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Ndiyakudinga, EP (2023)
“Ndiyakudinga is a prayer for love – for honest, patient, revolutionary love as we all continue to try to navigate the times and issues we find ourselves in. It is a prayer that we find freedom in love.”
- Herbie Tsoaeli & Sibongakonke Mama