Bheki Mseleku
Encyclopedia
Bhekumuzi Hyacinth Mseleku, generally known as Bheki Mseleku (3 March 1955 – 9 September 2008) was a jazz musician from South Africa
. He was a pianist, saxophonist, guitarist, composer and arranger who was entirely self taught.
Mseleku's father was a musician and teacher, and a Cambridge University
music graduate, who had religious beliefs which prevented his children from ready access to the family's upright piano in case any of them should pursue something as "devilish" as music. His mother gave him the keys while his father was away, but the piano ended up as firewood one winters evening. During his childhood, Mseleku suffered the loss of the upper joints of two fingers in his right hand from a go- carting accident. He explained in a 1994 South Bank Show
dedicated to him that this was wholly due to the restricted health care available to Black South Africans under Apartheid.
Mseleku started his musical career in Johannesburg in 1975 as an electric organ player for a R&B
band, Spirits Rejoice. After performing at the Newport Jazz Festival
in 1977, Mseleku settled in Botswana for a time, moved to London
, England
in the late 1970s, and made an attempt to settle into the jazz scene in Stockholm from 1980 to 1983, but then returned to London. It was not until 1987 that Mseleku made his debut at the prominent Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club
, playing piano unaccompanied by other musicians, with a saxophone in his lap.
His 1991 album, Celebration, which featured Courtney Pine
among a number of British players as guests, was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize. After this he was taken up by the major Verve
label for several albums. The first of these featured a number of American players including Joe Henderson
, Abbey Lincoln
and Elvin Jones
. In 1996, Mseleku won a KORA All Africa Music Award
in the category Best Instrumentalist (Southern Afrika).
With his last record Home at Last (2003) Mseleku, "a self- confessed 'Citizen of the World'", explored 'home' as being "a spiritual construct made up of special people and relationships, those that came along on the long hard road, those that were left behind to be re-visited later."
Mseleku was diabetic
and at one time had been diagnosed as bipolar
. He died in his London flat having spent most of his last years back in South Africa, but without finding an outlet for his skills there; his home was burgled at one point, which he took badly, and he lost the mouthpiece John Coltrane
had used for the recording of A Love Supreme
, given to him by Alice Coltrane
at Newport.
Over the two years prior to his death, he had established a new band in London, UK and had made several well received appearances around the country.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He was a pianist, saxophonist, guitarist, composer and arranger who was entirely self taught.
Mseleku's father was a musician and teacher, and a Cambridge University
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
music graduate, who had religious beliefs which prevented his children from ready access to the family's upright piano in case any of them should pursue something as "devilish" as music. His mother gave him the keys while his father was away, but the piano ended up as firewood one winters evening. During his childhood, Mseleku suffered the loss of the upper joints of two fingers in his right hand from a go- carting accident. He explained in a 1994 South Bank Show
The South Bank Show
The South Bank Show was a television arts magazine show, originally made by London Weekend Television , presented by Melvyn Bragg, broadcast on ITV and seen in over 60 countries worldwide — including Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Sweden and the United States...
dedicated to him that this was wholly due to the restricted health care available to Black South Africans under Apartheid.
Mseleku started his musical career in Johannesburg in 1975 as an electric organ player for a R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
band, Spirits Rejoice. After performing at the Newport Jazz Festival
Newport Jazz Festival
The Newport Jazz Festival is a music festival held every summer in Newport, Rhode Island, USA. It was established in 1954 by socialite Elaine Lorillard, who, together with husband Louis Lorillard, financed the festival for many years. The couple hired jazz impresario George Wein to organize the...
in 1977, Mseleku settled in Botswana for a time, moved to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in the late 1970s, and made an attempt to settle into the jazz scene in Stockholm from 1980 to 1983, but then returned to London. It was not until 1987 that Mseleku made his debut at the prominent Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club
Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club
Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club is a jazz club which has operated in London since 1959.The club opened on 30 October 1959 in a basement at 39 Gerrard Street in London's Soho district. It was managed by musicians Ronnie Scott and Pete King. In 1965 it moved to a larger venue nearby at 47 Frith Street...
, playing piano unaccompanied by other musicians, with a saxophone in his lap.
His 1991 album, Celebration, which featured Courtney Pine
Courtney Pine
Courtney Pine CBE is an English jazz musician. At school he studied the clarinet, although he is known primarily for his saxophone playing. Pine is a multi-instrumentalist, also playing the flute, clarinet, bass Clarinet and keyboards...
among a number of British players as guests, was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize. After this he was taken up by the major Verve
Verve Records
Verve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
label for several albums. The first of these featured a number of American players including Joe Henderson
Joe Henderson
Joe Henderson was an American jazz tenor saxophonist. In a career spanning more than forty years Henderson played with many of the leading American players of his day and recorded for several prominent labels, including Blue Note.-Early life:From a very large family with five sisters and nine...
, Abbey Lincoln
Abbey Lincoln
Anna Marie Wooldridge , better known by her stage name Abbey Lincoln, was a jazz vocalist, songwriter, and actress. Lincoln was unusual in that she wrote and performed her own compositions, expanding the expectations of jazz audiences.-Biography:Born in Chicago, Illinois, she was one of many...
and Elvin Jones
Elvin Jones
Elvin Ray Jones was a jazz drummer of the post-bop era. He showed interest in drums at a young age, watching the circus bands march by his family's home in Pontiac, Michigan....
. In 1996, Mseleku won a KORA All Africa Music Award
Kora Awards
The Kora Awards are music awards given annually for musical achievement in sub-Saharan Africa. Founded in 1994 by Ernest Adjovi, they are comparable to the American Grammy Awards in intent...
in the category Best Instrumentalist (Southern Afrika).
With his last record Home at Last (2003) Mseleku, "a self- confessed 'Citizen of the World'", explored 'home' as being "a spiritual construct made up of special people and relationships, those that came along on the long hard road, those that were left behind to be re-visited later."
Mseleku was diabetic
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced...
and at one time had been diagnosed as bipolar
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder or bipolar affective disorder, historically known as manic–depressive disorder, is a psychiatric diagnosis that describes a category of mood disorders defined by the presence of one or more episodes of abnormally elevated energy levels, cognition, and mood with or without one or...
. He died in his London flat having spent most of his last years back in South Africa, but without finding an outlet for his skills there; his home was burgled at one point, which he took badly, and he lost the mouthpiece John Coltrane
John Coltrane
John William Coltrane was an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Working in the bebop and hard bop idioms early in his career, Coltrane helped pioneer the use of modes in jazz and later was at the forefront of free jazz...
had used for the recording of A Love Supreme
A Love Supreme
A Love Supreme is a studio album recorded by John Coltrane's quartet in December 1964 and released by Impulse! Records in February 1965...
, given to him by Alice Coltrane
Alice Coltrane
Alice Coltrane, née McLeod was an American jazz pianist, organist, harpist, and composer.-Biography:...
at Newport.
Over the two years prior to his death, he had established a new band in London, UK and had made several well received appearances around the country.
Discography
- Celebration (World CircuitWorld Circuit (record label)World Circuit is a world-music record label that specializes in Cuban and West African recording artists, among other international music stars. World Circuit celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2006 by releasing World Circuit Presents..., a 2-disc retrospective compilation album...
, 1991) - Meditations (Verve RecordsVerve RecordsVerve Records is an American jazz record label now owned by Universal Music Group. It was founded by Norman Granz in 1956, absorbing the catalogues of his earlier labels, Clef Records and Norgran Records , and material which had been licensed to Mercury previously.-Jazz and folk origins:The Verve...
, 1992) - Timelessness (Verve, 1993)
- Star Seeding (Polygram Records, 1995)
- Beauty of Sunrise (Polygram, 1997)
- Home at Last (Sheer SoundSheer SoundSheer Sound is a South African indie record label formed in 1994 by Damon Forbes.-History:Sheer Sound was formed in November 1994, shortly after South Africa’s first democratic elections...
, 2003)