WOMAD

Selaelo Selota

From South Africa

2001:Selaelo Selota is rapidly becoming one of the most talked about jazz artists in South Africa – and deservedly so.Since the release of his debut album, Painted Faces, Selota has ignited a firestorm of praise for both his phenomenal live performances as well as his recorded work, going as far as earning him two SAMA 7 Awards (March 2001), for Best Newcomer, and Best Contemporary Jazz Album.Last year saw Selota sharing the stage with Johnathan Butler and Bob James in a two day Vodadome Winter Jazz concert. Working alongside Ronny Jordan at the Gauteng Arts Alive festival, and igniting the stage with a spectacular performance at the ever popular ‘Jazz At The Lake’ many declared the highlight of the event.Pin-pointing exactly what Selota’s appeal is, is not easy. In person he easily reveals his penetrating intelligence and rare capacity for integrating philosophical beliefs with a thoroughly grounded reality. Live on stage, Selota transforms his music into a visceral experience that’s hard to forget. And finally, there’s the music, which the musician creates with just the right measures of inventiveness, freshness and a sensibility of the importance of tradition.That traditional music should be Selota’s foundation is not hard to understand when you delve a little into his past.Selaelo Selota was born and grew up in a rural village in the northern region of South Africa near Pietersburg where he was greatly inspired by the traditional musical practices that were around him. On completing high school, and not having financial resources to further his studies, he found employment in gold mining. Working in the mines and living amongst the migrant workers, he was exposed to the traditional songs and dances from many other Southern African tribal groups. After three years, he left the mines and went to Johannesburg in search of new directions in life.In Johannesburg he worked at the Market Theatre as an usher and later as a cleaner at Kippies Jazz International. He seized every opportunity to learn from the musicians he heard performing there night after night. During that year 1988, he bought his first guitar and began studying music theory through FUBA (Federated Union of Black Artists) Academy.By June 1989 Selaelo Selota was playing with his first band at the Market Theatre. He subsequently played with renowned Ghanaian artist George Lee and Anansi.In 1992/93 Selota worked with Shell Road to Fame while teaching Jazz Guitar at FUBA Academy and in 1994 enrolled at the University of Cape Town’s College of Music to study for a Jazz Degree. As a bandleader he formed "Meropa" and played at the Grahamstown Arts Festival Fringe in 1995.He formed his band, Taola, in 1996 as a vehicle for his original compositions, which are an energetic and emotional fusion of Pedi music, modern elements and the traditional African musical experiences of his youth. Taola has appeared on television and in numerous live performances and festivals. Selaelo Selota and Taola were billed in the UCT Jazz Festival held at the Baxter Concert Hall in Cape Town in August 1997 and were invited to perform at the Fin de Siecle Music Festival in Nantes, France in October 1997 – receiving standing ovations.Selaelo Selota was awarded second prize in the prestigious Adcock Ingram Music Competition in 1996 and in 1997 he won first prize, both in the Jazz category and also graduated from UCT in with a Jazz degree, majoring in Jazz Composition and Arrangement. Having performed in Holland to audiences boasting music greats like Tuck & Patti, as well as Cape Town’s Mayor, the South African Ambassador and Embassy staff from Brussels and London, Selota has been invited to appear at a Jazz Festival in Brussels in September this year.