Upcoming Gigs

Universal artist Jimmy Dludlu was 13 years old when he first picked up a cousin's home made guitar and started teaching himself to play by imitating the jazz and African music he heard on the radio.

His debut album for PolyGram, Echoes from the Past, was released to a wealth of superlatives from the media. The album was also well received by the industry, as Jimmy received 2 FNB SAMA Awards for "Best Newcomer" and "Best Contemporary Jazz Album" with sales in excess of 25 000 copies. The album has since been released in nine territories on the Verve label, including United States, Italy, Switzerland, Sweden and Hungary.

Jimmy was further acknowledged by the South African music industry, winning the "Best Male Artist" category, and with "Essence of Rhythm" taking the "Best Contemporary Jazz Album" prize at the SAMA Music Awards

Jimmy Dludlu's style includes wide-ranging influences, combining both traditional and modern elements of jazz drawn from among others Wes Montgomery, George Benson and Pat Metheny, to South African legends Miriam Makeba, Letta Mbulu, Hugh Masekela, Themba Mokwena, and Allen Kwela. He is particularly drawn to the sounds of west and central Africa, as well as Latin America, but says jazz remains his first love. His numerous original compositions fall within the tradition of what has been loosely termed Afro-Jazz.

www.jimmydludlu.co.za