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Siya Makuzeni ‘Electro Jazz’ Feat. Daev MartianLive at The Basement | Saturday 28th June 2025 | 20h00

Untitled Basement is proud to host a series of performances by the incredibly talented Siya Makuzeni, this is performance 2 in a series of 3 shows.

Prepare to journey through a fierce, futuristic soundscape where jazz meets the dance floor, and tradition merges with deep electronic pulse. Siya Makuzeni’s Elektro-Jazz showcase is a high-voltage sonic experience — a bold crossover of Xhosa vocal phrasing, improvisational fire, dub elements, and polyrhythmic grooves designed to move both heart and body.

Featuring sonic architect Daev Martian, this collaboration deepens the electronic palette with lush synthscapes, glitched textures, and hip hop- inflected rhythms. Drawing from Makuzeni’s unmistakable electronic pedal and vocal command as seen in live performances, the set blends live trombone, pedal effects and loops, and electronic beats with layers of ancestral soul.

Expect driving basslines, hypnotic rhythms, and fearless improvisation — all grounded in a distinct South African identity with global resonance.This is not just a performance. It’s an afro-futuristic ritual, a dance invocation, and a jazz rebellion — led by one of South Africa’s most genre-defying voices, in powerful dialogue with one of its most forward-thinking producers.

Renowned for her extensive vocal dexterity and experimental creativity, Siya Makuzeni is a distinct South African voice in the world of modern music. She draws on musical influences from traditional and modern jazz, Xhosa music, soul, electronic and experimental music, in her aspiration for symbiotic cross – genre (Cross-Over) expression.

As composer/ arranger / band leader, Siya amalgamates genre-bending into a tasteful journey that transcends Jazz-fusion/rock/pop/soul sentiments and allows the listener to explore new soundscape offerings (live vocal loops, backtrack arrangements, sound & electronic manipulation) from South Africa’s musical landscape.

Some of her contributions include:

Nelson Mandela – The Lost Tapes (Audible Originals – 2022) Uprising: HERSTORY – Ford Theatre (Los Angeles – 2019) The Road (Mzansi Magic – 2015)

As a band leader, she has led prominent performances since 2016: was billed as the Opening Act for the “Jazz Epistles Reunion” at Emperor’s Palace, performed at Safaricom Jazz Festival (Kenya, 2016), the - Joy of Jazz (2016),Jazz Foundation International Big Band Festival (2021) Cape Town International Jazz Festival (2017) Arts Alive (2018) and Jazz In The Lights (2024).

This show promises to be a magnificent musical experience.

Press Quotables:“Two characteristics of classic jazz singing are central to her wider, wilder musical identity too. She can and does scat in classic style, as well as in harmonically more subversive formats. She gave us both on her re-imagining of Bheki Mseleku’s Through the Years, very much in the spirit of Abbey Lincoln, but absolutely not any kind of cover. Makuzeni also has near-perfect diction: a skill that is sometimes undervalued. But it matters when the notes are going sham-boom-shedazzle-ow-ow-ow, but the lyrics still have something to say and we need to hear them. However much Makuzeni fragments the phrases and growls, roars, shouts and bends the sounds, you can always catch the words.” – GWEN ANSELL [Sis Gwen Jazz Blog – May 29 2016]

“Makuzeni is the embodiment of pianist Thelonious Monk’s observation that jazz is driven not by technique but by philosophy. Hers is a progressively open and generous musical ethos that acknowledges her musical roots, from a “huge leaning to the textures and songs” of her Eastern Cape home, through to jazz luminaries like bassist and composer Victor Ntoni and The Blue Notes’ Johnny Dyani.” – NIREN TOLSI [Sunday Times Lifestyle - 06 December

Show info:Doors open at 18H00, Performance starts at 20h00

Expect two sets of approximately 45-50 minutes each with a 15minute interval.

Tickets are unreserved.

For table/booth reservations, pre-show dinner and drinks (bottle service, etc.) email bookings@artivist.co.za

or book online: https://forms.gle/grkacCKchZsSbXDd9