Recorded at Rhodes University Beethoven Room,
Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa
26 November 2015

When we started our journey we just had a couple of tunes we played over and over. Along with a refurbished version of the popular "Autumn leaves", "Dienda" (composed by pianist Kenny Kirkland), with its harmonic complexity and contemporary 3/4 feel was a challenge to our saxophone player, who had never played it before. It was a Lonwabo favourite.
For the sake of recording this song, we counted on Qhawe's savoir-faire. Aside from singing beautifully she adapted the lyrics to the urban context we were living in.
"With the promise of spring on a Joza street ..."

The second part of this track is an extension called "Ndiyabulela" ("I am grateful" in isiXhosa, the local language at Makana), a sort of spiritual melody composed "on the spot" during one of our endless jams together.

Dienda + Ndiyabulela

with
Lonwabo Diba Mafani - piano
Pep Solà-Niubó - tenor sax
special guest :: Qhawekazi Giyose - voice