Sipho Gumede, 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?
Right now, Suthukazi Arosi’s Ubuntu and then Sheer All Stars’ Indibano.
Describe your set for Joy of Jazz.
I will try and cover all my albums and play it by ear, depending largely on what people want. The band will include Mandla Masuku on saxophone, Xoli Nkosi on keyboard and Nelson Gumede [no relation]
on second keyboards.
What are your thoughts on the South African music industry ahead of the country’s music week?
My problem is that we have a music week; you never hear that in, say, the United States. Playing our own music is an investment to the country; I do not understand why people are resisting it.
At what point in your career do you think you are now and where do you see yourself in five years’ time?
Right now I feel it is the beginning of things because I am writing all the time, I feel that I may peak in five years.
If you met the late Miles Davis, what would you have said to him?
I would like to ask him two questions: first, what does he think of Hugh Masekela’s playing and, second, what does he think of the standard of South African jazz.