Themba Mkhize, appearing at the Joy of Jazz festival, speaks to Thebe Mabanga.
What are your two favourite albums of all time and which tracks stand out for you?
The first one is The Union Of South Africa with Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwanga and Caiphus Semenya. It was the first record I owned. There is also Salif Keita’s Soro. It means so much to me as an African and as a musician. It also has stunning musicianship.
Describe your set for Joy of Jazz.
It will cover my two albums; I do not think I will be doing standard tunes because sometimes you tend to be judged by those. I have nothing against standards but there is also a need for material that can be played 20 or 30 years from now.
What are your thoughts on the South African music industry ahead of the country’s music week?
It is good that we have something like this because we’re able to air our views. But I also think it is a shame that we have it, for what are we saying about the rest of the year? It feels like staying in a household where you have to accommodate visitors by sleeping outside. Only these visitors are always here and for one week in a year you can come inside.
At what point in your career do you think you are now and where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
I do not know. I have been in the business for a long time. Maybe this is the beginning of Themba Mkhize as a solo artist and I am learning. Five years down the line I hope to have learned things I could not have learned as a backing artist.
If you met the late Miles Davis, what would you have said to him?
It is very difficult because I am a very shy person. I have met the likes of Quincy Jones through Caiphus Semenya and never knew what to say. To Miles, I suppose I will say: “It is a pleasure to meet you Sir Miles” —that is if he will agree to the title.