What: 🎵 Lumanyano Mzi @ Untitled Basement
When:
Who: 📚 Lumanyano Mzi
Where: 🕳 Untitled Basement
How much:
“Join us for a momentous evening celebrating the highly anticipated debut solo album, Ithemba Elitsha (A New Hope), from the award-winning South African-born, New York-based drummer, composer, producer, and bandleader, Lumanyano “Mzi” Bizana.
Lumanyano’s musical journey began at the tender age of six in Cape Town, when a serendipitous moment stepping in for a missing drummer at his father’s reggae band rehearsal ignited a lifelong passion. Self-taught and deeply influenced by the rich tapestry of reggae, jazz, African music, and gospel, his early curiosity blossomed into exceptional talent. He further honed his craft at the University of Cape Town’s South African College of Music, graduating in 2017, before moving to the United States in 2021 to attend the prestigious Berklee College of Music, where he graduated in 2024.
A household name in the industry, Lumanyano has an extensive performance history, sharing stages and studios with an impressive roster of local and international luminaries including Larry Klien, Sona Jobarteh, Terry Lyne Carrington, Kris Davis, Freshly Ground, Mandisi Dyantyis, Maquis Hill, Elena Pinderhughes, Sibongile Khumalo, McCoy Mrubata, Judith Sephuma, Ruth Tafebe, Luciano, Eric Donaldson, Half Pint, Everton Blender, Nando Mitchelin, Gloria Bosman, Turbulance, Jah Mason, Tyron Downie, Drie Manskap, Micheal Bester, Cedric “Congo” Myton, N8N, Meta & The Cornerstones, and Pam Hall, to name just a few. Now based in the “Big Apple,” Lumanyano continues to push creative boundaries as a dynamic and collaborative force in the global music scene.
More about the album:
Ithemba Elitsha is a rich and unique sonic tapestry that offers a profound invitation to infinite hope for humanity’s future. In a world often fraught with existential angst and uncertainty, this musical offering serves as a welcome tonic. Lumanyano masterfully captures the complexities of his personal journey while reflecting on a constantly changing world seeking meaning and healing. His deft musical touch skillfully blends the old and the contemporary, paying homage to the rich heritage of South African jazz and township sounds that shaped his early influences, evoking a warm nostalgia while embracing global and contemporary sonic elements. This synthesis creates a truly special musical masterpiece, inviting listeners on a transformative voyage across space and time.
Remarkably, the music transcends geographical limitations, making it accessible to a global audience and reflecting the common bond of humanity, as suggested by the meaning of Lumanyano’s own name. The album is brought to life by a multinational and multigenerational ensemble featuring KEVIN HARRIS (US), CIARA MOSER (AT), JEAN STRAUSS (SA), ISAAC ROMAGOSA (SP), and SIMON MANANA (SA), with SPECIAL GUEST: SPHA MDLALOSE.
Ithemba Elitsha is a heartfelt invitation to renewed dreams, hope, and freedom with childlike abandon. It encourages us to pause and realign with ourselves in a society that often prioritizes the constant and hollow pursuit of the next. Listening to this offering promises a transformative experience, leaving you feeling connected to self and humanity, and inspired to keep hope alive!”