SA trumpeter Nhlanhla Brian Thusi dies

The musician had worked with local and international artists including Mbongeni Ngema (SA), Winston Ngozi (SA), Victor Ntoni (SA), Lulu Gontsana (SA), Ladysmith Black Mambazo (SA), Caiphus Semenya (SA), Hugh Masekela (SA), Malcolm Braff (Brazil/Switzerland), Kenny Barron (US) and Darius Brubeck (US).

"He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and community builder," a family statement reads. "He was very passionate about developing young talent and loved his craft, as he spent most of his time perfecting his talents. He will be sorely missed for his carefree attitude, always cracking jokes. He loved people, always socialising easily with anyone, no matter what social status they occupied."

Condolences from various South African fraternities surfaced on social media on Wednesday.

“We send our sympathies to the loved ones of internationally celebrated jazz musician and Umlazi Arts Organisation lifetime musician award recipient Dr Nhlanhla Brian Thusi, who has sadly passed away. He trained over 2 000 brass musicians who performed for the Sydney Olympic Games,” the Department of Arts and Culture wrote on Twitter.

The South African Music Rights Organisation tweeted: “SAMRO is saddened to learn of the passing of Dr Nhlanhla Brian Thusi. A top musician, award winner, scholar and mentor of many young talents, especially from ekasi laseMlazi. Our condolences go out to his family and mentees. Lala uphumule Mfene, Mlotshwa.”

Born in Umlazi, Durban, in 1952, Thusi started playing brass instruments when he was 10 years old. He played trumpet for the school jazz band and later co-formed a school jazz outfit that became popular around Durban. He performing with the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra and the Namibia National Symphony Orchestra. He later led the Natal University Jazz Band at Expo 2000 in Hanover, Germany.

In 1986, he founded a music centre for historically disadvantaged young people in Durban and surrounding areas. In 2009, his debut album Future Talk was nominated in the Best Traditional Jazz Album category at the South African Music Awards. He also released the albums Bonga and Thokoza.

Thusi had performed in Nigeria, Ghana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, France, Germany and the US, among others. In 2000, he mentored young South African brass musicians for the opening ceremony of the Sydney Olympics.

He is survived by his wife, KwaZulu-Natal MEC for social development Weziwe Gcotyelwa Thusi, his children, Mongezi‚ Songezo and Bahla‚ his two brothers and three grandchildren.