Dick Khoza

Dick Khoza was a pioneering South African jazz drummer, percussionist, bandleader, and composer who significantly impacted the South African jazz scene during the 1960s and 1970s. Born in Malawi, Khoza's journey into the world of music began when he moved to South Africa at a young age with his Malawian parents. In 1944, he made the bold decision to leave school to pursue music, opting for tutelage under established musicians instead of formal education.

Musical Journey through South Africa

Khoza's musical journey traversed various South African cities, marking his influence on the local jazz community:

• 1950s: Collaborated with the Four Yanks in East London and Christopher 'Columbus' Ngcukana in Cape Town. He honed his skills on the drum kit with bandleader Lucky Malakana.
• 1960s: By 1962, he was playing with Eric Nomvete's Big Five at the Cold Castle Jazz Festival. He was a part of Lucky Malakana's Broadway Brothers and filled the drummer's role full-time with guidance from Robert Matuba. Khoza toured South Africa with Joe Balelka Daku in "The Sounds" and eventually formed the group "Vuka" with Claude Ngcukana on piano.

The Durban Years

In the early 1970s, Khoza's influence grew in Durban. He balanced a day job at the Natal Command military base with night-time jazz performances amidst apartheid restrictions. His collaborations included performances with Alfred Nokwe, Ndaba's Swingsters Jazz Band in Cato Manor, and participation in a jazz group with Pat Matshikiza, Simon "Baba" Mokoena, and Victor Gaba. He also invested in the future of jazz by conducting workshops for young musicians at the Durban YMCA and collaborated with bassist Sipho Gumede in the Jazz Revellers.

Johannesburg and The Pelican Club

After moving to Johannesburg, Khoza became a central figure in the city's vibrant jazz scene, frequenting cultural hotspots such as Dorkay House and Kohinoor Records. His work as stage manager and house band leader at the Pelican Club in Orlando East, Soweto, turned the venue into a crucial development site for 1970s bands like Roots, Spirits Rejoice, Sakhile, and Stimela. Known for his keen eye for talent, Khoza played alongside luminaries such as Winston Mankunku Ngozi and Cups Nkanuka.

Iconic Recordings

1976 was marked by two pivotal recordings featuring Khoza:

• Tete Mbambisa's "Tete's Big Sound": In January, Khoza contributed to this album, which was recorded at Gallo Studios and released under the As-shams label.
• "Chapita" Album: Recorded in September 1976, post-Soweto uprisings, "Chapita" featured the Pelican Club house band and musicians from the Afro Pedlars. Released on the As-shams label, the album encapsulated the urban mood of mid-1970s Johannesburg, with the title track addressing the journeys of urban migrants.

Influence and Legacy

Khoza's ventures to distant lands, like his 1974 trip to Malawi, infused his music with global influences akin to the sounds of Osibisa. Upon returning to South Africa, he infused these experiences into his compositions, shifting the landscape of local jazz. As a versatile musician, organizer, and talent nurturer, Khoza bridged eras of South African jazz from the 1950s through the 1970s, leaving an indelible mark on a nation navigating political oppression.

Sources

• https://sisgwenjazz.wordpress.com/2021/08/29/man-chapita-was-alive-dick-khozas-own-words-finally-see-the-light/
• https://www.discogs.com/artist/210656-Dick-Khoza
• https://www.qobuz.com/us-en/interpreter/dick-khoza/9460620
• https://scroll.in/article/675631/the-indian-who-recorded-south-africas-greatest-jazz-musicians
• https://honestjons.com/shop/artist/Dick_Khoza/release/Chapita
• https://www.last.fm/music/Dick+Khoza
• http://afrobeat-music.blogspot.com/2014/02/sotuh-african-jazz-dick-khoza-chapita.html
• https://www.discogs.com/master/315674-Dick-Khoza-Chapita
• https://soundsoftheuniverse.com/sjr/product/dick-khoza-chapita