Bheki Khoza

Bhekisisa Khosa is the well-known left handed guitarist from Umlazi, Durban, South Africa.

In 1991 he received a Talent Award and scholarship to study music in America. He returned in 1995 from studying at the University of Hartford, Connecticut, with the great Jackie McClean, on of the few living legends.

Some of the musicians he held the opportunity to play with included Kenny Barron, Hilton Ruiz, Kirk Ligtsey, Cecil McBee, Virgil Jones, Charlces Davis and Steve Davis, who now Anarchy, a jam club for African music, in particular. Gigs stemming from the African connection included backing vocalist FLoxy Bee from Nigeria and Thuli Dumakude, a singer from South Africa, of Mabatha Fame.

Prior to studying in America, Bheki played with the African Jazz Pioneers, Abie Cindi, Sipho Gumede, Winston Mankunku Ngozi, Rene McClean, Victor Ntoni, Mike Makhalemala, George Lee, and Berry Rachabane, among others. He also backed South Africa’s famous songbirds, Sibongile Khumalo, Sophic Mgina, Dolly Rathebe, Abigail Kubheka, and Themi Mtshani. During this time Bheki also had his own band Thayima, which played jazz and African music directly addressing the social conditions of the late 1980’s for this reason the band was never recorded.

Bheki musical influence are many. His grandmother played Jewish harp and harmonica, and enriched him with tradition of Zulu music which he then found in Phuz Shukela, Kati Elimnyama and Ngane Ziyamfiva. He was also influenced by people at wedding, funerals, in the street and shebeens. Other influences include Philip Thabane, Alan Kwela, Abdulah American Influences-Wes Montogomery, Barney Kessel, Kenny Burrell, Joe Pass, George Benson and Charlie Parker in later which Bheki also picked up.

Bheki recorded an album entitles “Asambe” in 1995, which is often aired on Radio Metro and Safm. The album is comprised of original compositions, some of which used to be Shonilanga. Bheki also composed the African Jazz Pioneers hit “Sgaxa Mabhande”.

Bheki is musical director for the South African film production of “Drum”, a frictional account of the razing of Sophiatown. The film features a high profile international cast, a wide variety new musical production selections which defined the Sophiatown sound, and many of the surviving musicians who played in the bands of the time. The film is schedule for world premiere in the Spring of 2004.