Press Article

2006 November 16   "Nkabinde's world of many cultures"
Publication: Tonight, The Star
Byline: Therese Owen

I first heard Concord Nkabinde’s name back in my Durban days in the early 90’s. Even though he was studying jazz at the University of Natal, his name as a bassist was always connected to Durban’s top jazz musicians. I never saw him perform because then I was into Satan-Metal or Die! culture.
More than 12 years passed since those dark days, and Nkabinde’s name is now nationally associated with good bass playing. Lazy journos lump him with the jazz fraternity, but this brilliant bassist, through his session work, plays rock to afro-pop and funk. He has played with everyone from Ian Herman and is currently Johnny Clegg’s bassist.
“I didn’t choose the bass, the bass chose me,” he says simply. “I first picked up the acoustic guitar when I was 10 years old. The bass has one note at a time so it is easier to play, but the responsibility is much bigger. You’re in the background but together with drums you have to keep the rhythm and the song together. I love making an impact but not being in people’s faces.”
“I make a comfortable living in session music, but through my solo project I have been forced to look at why I make music,” says Concord, who clearly does not take things at face value. He has a questioning mind and, judging by his lyrics and our conversation, is a deep thinker. He speaks slowly and gently, and prefers the serious side of life. “The gift of influence comes with a lot of responsibility and this, my second solo project, is quite challenging, especially when playing live. You have an hour to address people. When I create music, what am I saying?”

When listening to This is my world, he is saying a lot. On his first album he chose chants and instrumentals but says he enjoyed writing lyrics for his second.
“The lyrics are a reflection of where I am. I am soul-searching. I hardly ever write love songs but I did put one on the album. This is the perfect time for me to release. I feel so ready.”
Through working with so many musicians he was able to hand pick exactly who to play on his album. This includes lady of the moment, Maduvha. “When Maduvha sings in TshiVenda, you just fall in love. I chose TshiVenda because it is so marginalized. I love exploring languages and on this album I sing in IsiZulu, Spanish and Mandarin, among others.”
He says he can speak six languages and is also learning French, Spanish & TshiVenda. “I like to explore languages in my performances because it brings different cultures together.
“It may be a small thing but I would love a Chinese audience. Chinese people are generally considered faceless here.”
“Lili Feng plays a zither, which is an 18-string instrument. She is featured on my album. I recently performed with her for 2000 Chinese people at Emperor’s Palace hosted by the Chinese Embassy. When they heard me sing in Mandarin they went mad.”
The two met in 2000 at a South African-China collaboration project and she is featured on both his albums.
“I am currently working on her album, which she will be singing in Mandarin,” he says. He pauses, then adds: “I love doing things people haven’t done or won’t want to do.”
• This is my world is this week’s ‘CD of the week’ on Kaya FM 95.9. It will be a whole week of reviews, interviews and playing different songs from the album. Show and times: Georgie in the afternoon, between 12 and 4pm, Monday to Friday. For more info visit www.kayafm.co.za