Siya Makuzeni

BIO

Siya Makuzeni is a professional South African trombone player, vocalist, lyricist and songwriter; Johnnie Walker Ambassador(2019), British Council Commissioned Composer (2018), Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz 2016 recipient, who has regularly collaborated with A-list South African musicians such as Themba Mkhize, Afrika Mkhize, Feya Faku, Khaya Mahlangu,Abigail Khubeka, the late Sibongile Khumalo,as well as featuring in Grammny award artists David Murray, Jacky Terrasson and Branford Marsalis' performances in 2016-2017. She is also the band leader of Siya Makuzeni Sextet as well as cross-over rock band IppYFuzE. Makuzeni picked up the trombone in 1997 while attending Stirling High School in East London and studied BMus/BMusJazz at Rhodes University & the Pretoria Technikon Music School. She has since toured and performed around the globe, most notably in Italy where she contributed as co-composer and lyric interpreter to the soundtrack of Forse Dio e Malato (Maybe God is ill). Music producer, session musician , arranger and voice-over artist when not performing live, Makuzeni has lent her songwriting skills to a few albums by various artists , including Mahube's "Zenzele" Language 12 albums "Language 12" and "Maji Maji - in the land of Milk & Honey" , Mpemba Effect's "Ambient Afrique" and Rudeboy Paul's "Azanian Pulse Vol.2 " ; as well as vocal features in Tlale Makhene's "The Ascension of Enlightenment" , Afrotraction's "Soulfully Yours", Jack Hammer's “The Pilgrim” and Frank Opperman's "Let's Be Frank". She's also released her own records; "Out Of This World" as Siya Makuzeni Sextet (feat. Justin Falkner, UKVibe 5/5 Album review) and"Amaxhentsa" as IppYFuzE. Her live collaborations include performances with Lionel Loueke (NAF 2015), William Kentridge and Phillip Miller in Dancing with Dada - featuring Dada Masilo (2011), Mac McKenzie & The Goema Captains, Tumi Molekane , Themba Mkhize & SWR Big Band (Germany) to name a few. Siya’s most recent vocal features are on Phillip Noyce -directed "Roots" and "Book Of Negroes" TV adapted productions ,and her composition features include being Additional Music Producer for Mzansi Magic’s “ The Road “ drama series, which was aired in 2015.