Two very different, and unique, young artists are in Durban this week.
? Gary Thomas, who is described as a “psychedelic one-man anti-folk jamming machine”, creates both epic soundscapes of surrealistic intensity and raw lashings of openness and honesty through a minimal arrangement of guitar, voice and stomp-box. The Durban-born Capetonian is as renowned for his relentless touring schedule as he is for rupturing the mould of the conventional singer-songwriter, and his live performance has been honed to an ever-sharper edge because of his total commitment to playing live gigs. His studio work is equally spellbinding and his debut album, Contraption Distoria, received much critical praise.
KZNSA Gallery, 166 Bulwer Road, October 7 at 8pm. Tickets are R40 and albums will be on sale. Tel: 031 277 1705. Visit: www.garythomas.co.za.
? Young French pianist and classical music star Maxime Zecchini is described as a phenomenon. One of the few piano virtuosi who specialises in left-hand compositions, the 32-year-old has been showered with awards since starting his musical studies and recently became the first French pianist to receive a degree from the prestigious Incontri col Maestro academy in Imola, Italy. He is hosted by Friends of Music in Durban and performs a solo concert featuring work by Mozart, Chopin, Saint-Saens, Brahms, Blumenfeld and Schulhoff.
Durban Jewish Centre, 44 Old Fort Road, October 11 at 7.45pm. Tickets are R70 from Computicket.