Thembi Dunjana - God Bless iKapa. God Bless Mzantsi. (2024) [Hi-Res]

Musically, she synthesizes the contemporary SA jazz sound with her American jazz influences: Moses Molelekwa, Afrika Mkhize, McCoy Tyner and Sonny Clark, to create a unique musical blend, unique to her musical creativeness. “Although I like contemporary styles, I love American jazz from the 50s and 60s in particular; my style captures these in a way where traditional jazz forms are prevalent, but the musical sound can be described as modern. I never try to sound like anyone but my influences come out in my compositional and improvisational approach”.

For track by track description as in liner notes see here:

Absenti (Intro) is a hand game —played by two— that we played as children growing up. The lyrics ask the questions: who are you? Where do you live? And the other would respond to these questions. In the album, I employed the melody and rhythm behind some new and creative piano chords.

Indlela Ikhona in my home language means: “there is always a way”. Therefore, as the title suggests, the message of the song is meant to extend hope.

Langa Lam is a ballad written for my daughter Langalethu.

African Child- Isidubada (Interlude). Isidubada is a made- up language that was used by our elders so we would not understand their private conversations.

iKhwezi is the isiXhosa word for “morning star”. iKhwezi is a reference to Jesus, who is also described in the scriptures as the “bright morning star”.

iKapa is the isiXhosa word for “Cape Town”. The song itself is a homage to Cape Town.

In Jesus’ Name is a proclamation of my love for my savior, Jesus. The song is inspired by my encounter with God in 2019, that changed my life for the better, forever.

They’ve Got The Map! Is my response to pianist Andile Yenana’s album and song title “Who’s Got The Map?”. His question was pointing to the lack of clarity as to who has the compass for the direction of the current state of South African jazz. As a younger generation of SA jazz musicians, I say that compass, for those of us who are younger players, is with him and other artists in his generation; hence the title: “They’ve Got The Map!”.

Echoes of Gugulethu is a song that remembers my upbringing in one of Cape Town’s oldest townships/ghettos, Gugulethu.

A City Dream. This song appreciates the golden opportunities that the city has in store for those who dare to dream.

Zoe Obadia - Alto Sax
Siya Charles - Trombone
Tim Norton - Bass
Jerome Jennings - Drums
Darrian Douglas - Drums on “iKapa” and “Echoes of Gugulethu”
Thembi Dunjana - Piano and Vocals