Young saxophonist Linda Sikhakhane releases new music demonstrating his growth and gentleness

By Funeka Bambalele

South African born saxophonist, composer and arranger, Linda Sikhakhane is inviting jazz lovers to tag along in his musical journey in his fourth album that has just been launched at an exclusive event in Sandton recently..

Titled Iladi which refers to a gathering of some sort, the album is produced by jazz exponent and scholar, Dr Nduduzo Makhathini. Sikhakhane features Zwelakhe Duma Bell le Pere who plays string bass, Kweku Sumbry on drums and Makhathini on piano.

The album is released through Universal Music and the famous Blue Note Records that is based in New York.  For decades Blue Note Records prided itself for producing celebrated jazz musicians like John Coltrane and Bobbi Humphrey among others.  Sikhakhane becomes the second South African artist to be signed by the international label after Makhathini. Sikhakhane regards it as a big thing for him to be mentioned in the same line with jazz greats. The opportunity is set to open international doors for the Umlazi born sax player.

Just before he released the album, Sikhakhane, a recipient of The Standard Bank Young Artist Award in the jazz category in 2022 hosted a listening session on Tuesday in Sandton. Jazz lovers and critics braved a Johannesburg cold night and came out in numbers to get a taste of what was released this two weeks ago.

If you have been following his career since 2017 when he dropped his debut Two Sides, One Mirror, you will agree that he has grown his approach. There is a sense of gentleness and softness in his approach. This time he sounds like a man who is on the right track in terms of finding his style.

In Iladi, Sikhakhane pays homage to a couple of people who have played a major role in the artist that we see today. Among the people he honours in the album is his mentor and producer, Dr Nduduzo Makhathini. He also pays homage to all his music teachers and his mother in a song titled Mama.

Explaining his gentleness he excused in the song Mama, Sikhakhane says: “Few days ago I was speaking to a friend saying the gentleness in my approach is exposing the real Linda Sikhakhane. It shows that this time around I was very deliberate in trying to look for myself in what I do. The sound is close to heart and most importantly I’m paying homage to my mother. By extension I am paying homage to a mother which is a stem for humans. I am just trying to exercise my voice sonically in the most regional way.”

“This album is a continuation from my first album. It is an unending journey. My love for music continues to be so deep. Since Iladi is a gathering of a community, this project seeks to open that invitation as well.”

With this album, the creation part of it was approached differently. He says the album is a response to the Standard Bank Young Artist Award that he won in 2022. He explains that dropping an album this year was not in his plans.

“After receiving the award, I thought it would be beautiful to respond in this way. I had to pick up many puzzles. For example, the song Mama was composed in 2018 while I was in New York. I was missing home and that is how it was composed. It is only now that I included it in the album.”

In his song Igosa/leader, Sikhakhane decided to pay gratitude to his teachers and those who laid the foundation for him and other jazz artists. He celebrates his primary music schoolteacher and the late Dr Brian Thusi, the man who started an art centre in Umlazi Township for many youngsters to realise their dreams.  

In the song Umhlahlandlela/Pathfinder, Sikhakhane acknowledges the man who has been his mentor for 13years, Nduduzo Makhathini for mentoring and guiding him.

“Nduduzo supported all my albums as a producer but, for this album, he also plays the piano, which has been a dream for me.  The song gives this sense of master disciple relationship which is significant in our African culture. This song is about a mentor assisting me in finding myself and navigating this musical scene.”

Sikhakhane has played and recorded with respected South African and international artists such as Brian Thusi,Barney Rachabane, Feya Faku, Marcus Wyatt, Herbie Tsoaeli, Andile Yenana, Nduduzo Makhathini, Afrika Mkhize, Sibongile Khumalo, Gregory Potter, Reggie Workman and many more. In 2016 he won the SAMRO Overseas Scholarship. The next year, he released his debut album titled Two Sides, One Mirror which was followed by Open Dialogue (Live in New York and Isambulo.

Sikhakhane relocated to New York in 2017 and enrolled at The New School University as a transfer student to complete his bachelor’s degree in jazz.