Ayanda Sikade Band

ABOUT

“Sometimes being a Practitioner of this music, it is not intentional; sometimes one plays so much that the music begins to overflow oneself and that’s when you find the need to share the music.”

Ayanda Sikade.

Born and bred in Mdantsane township, East London, - a township famously known for producing finest jazz artists and world-class boxers - Ayanda began playing drums at a tender age of ten as part of Vuka Jazz Band and debuted at the Grahamstown Youth Jazz Festival. In 1996 he was selected to represent South African Youth Jazz in Sweden. He later met Darius Brubeck at the Grahamstown Youth Festival 1999 instalment who invited him to join the University of Natal jazz programme where he graduated with a diploma in Music Performance in 2005. Ayanda later joined the Zimology Institute under the Leadership of legendary saxophonist Zim Ngqawana and recorded numerous albums alongside him including Zimology Quartet Live in Basel 2009, and Live in Heidelberg in Germany 2008.

Ayanda Sikade has shared a stage with numerous illustrious jazz artists from South Africa and globally, namely Feya Faku, Bheki Mseleku, Robbie Jansen, Barney Rachabane, Darius Brubeck and also been featured in the albums of the younger generation of South African Jazz pioneer such as Bokani Dyer, Afrika Mkhize, Siya Makhuzeni. Sikade also collaborated on a project with a piano protégé from Kenya Aaron Rimbui alongside legendary Contra Bassist Herbie Tsoaeli titled “Kwetu “. He also features on a cross continental project with Swiss Bassist; Bänz Oester known as “Bänz Oester and The Rainmakers “and recorded three albums; including a live recorded album at the iconic “Bird’s Eye “in 2014.

Ayanda’ drumming prowess features vastly in the current South African Jazz torchbearer, pianist Nduduzo Makhathini (Blue Notes Artist), projects. The Pianist has recorded eight albums including the no. 5 ranked album in the world (Ikhambi).

Ayanda has also has played in many festivals around the world namely, Winter Jazz Festival in New York, Tempere Jazz Happening Finland Festival in 2008, Cape Town Jazz Festival, Safaricom Jazz Festival Kenya, Joy of Jazz in Johannesburg and the Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

His debut album “Movements”, features Sydney Mavundla (Trumpet), Herbie Tsoaeli (Bass), Feya Faku (Flugelhorn), Malcom Jiyane (Trombone), Mthunzi Mvubu (Soprano/Alto Saxophone), Nhlanhla Mahlangu (Tenor/Soprano Saxophone) and Nduduzo Makhathini (Piano).

Ayanda recent offering, “Makhulu” (grandmother) is a token of appreciation to his late grandmother and all grandmothers of the world. The music compositions take us through his childhood golden memories and songs/melodies sung by his grandmother (Umakhulu).

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