Hotep Idris Galeta Will Appear on WBGO

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South African jazz pianist Hotep Idris Galeta makes a rare United States appearance this weekend, December 13-15, at Shutters Cafe in New York City. In preparation for the event, he will appear on New York's jazz station WBGO at 2 pm, Eastern Standard Time, where he will discuss the upcoming concert, as well as chat about his recent work in jazz upon returning to South Africa after many years in exile. Hotep Idris Galeta was born in Crawford, Cape Town and grew up exposed to the rich music culture in and around the city.

After meeting Abdullah Ibrahim, then known as Dollar Brand, at a high school jazz concert, the two became close friends and Brand became Hotep's mentor. Hotep, or as he was known in the 50's, Cecil Barnard, went on to establish himself as one of the young emerging pianists on the Cape Town Jazz scene. Hotep left South Africa in 1961 for London and then New York, remaining in exile for thirty years, during which he worked with jazz figures such as Jackie McLean, Woody Shaw, Elvin Jones, and Archie Shepp. He was appointed lecturer in Jazz studies to the University of Hartford's Hartt College of Music in 1985. This position continued until his return to South Africa in 1991. In 2003, Hotep released the critically acclaimed solo album Malay Tone Poem, recorded with some of South Africa's rising jazz stars including Marcus Wyatt and Zim Ngqawana. Hotep currently manages the Resource Centre at Artscape Performing Arts Theatre Complex in Cape Town, South Africa, and also co-ordinates the Jazz Performance and Community Outreach Jazz Education programs there, and also teaches at Fort Hare University.

Hotep will appear in New York as part of the weekend series “From Cape Town to Midtown: Jazz and the African Diaspora,” with New York pianist Onaje Allan Gumbs, December 13-15 at Shutters Cafe.

On Thursday, December 13, the two pianists perform together without accompaniment, presenting their own highly original brands of jazz compositions. On Friday, December 14, the legendary South African jazz vocalist Sathima Bea Benjamin joins the two pianists, performing an elegant jazz set with bassist Marcus McLaurine, and drummer George Gray. The series closes when saxophonist TK Blue, vocalist Gino Sitson, and percussionist Bujo Kevin Jones join the group for a full-band jam on Saturday, December 15.

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