Makaya Ntshoko


Makaya Ntshoko was a South African drummer.

Biography

Makaya Ntshoko was born in Cape Town, South Africa, on 29 October 1939. He grew up in Langa.
He played with Dollar Brand's trio in 1958, and recorded in a sextet with Hugh Masekela and John Mehegan in 1959. He performed on The Jazz Epistles album, Jazz Epistle: Verse 1. After the breakup of the group, Ntshoko founded The Jazz Giants with Kippie Moeketsi, Dudu Pukwana, Gideon Nxumalo, and Martin Mgijima. Ntshoko left South Africa in 1962, moving to Switzerland and playing with Johnny Gertze and Dollar Brand at the Club Africana in Zurich from 1963 to 1965. He later settled in Basel.
Following Brand's move to New York City, Ntshoko played in Copenhagen and recorded with Stuff Smith, Benny Bailey, Dexter Gordon, and Ben Webster. He embarked on a tour of the United States and the Bahamas in the early 1970s. He and Masekela recorded again in 1972. In 1974, he founded Makaya and the Tsotsis with Heinz Sauer, Bob Degen, and Isla Eckinger. Concomitantly, Ntshoko played in Nicra with Nick Evans and Radu Malfatti. In 1975, he appeared alongside Joe McPhee and Pepper Adams at the Willisau Jazz Festival. He collaborated with Mal Waldron and Johnny Dyani.
Ntshoko died on 27 August 2024, at the age of 84.

Discography

As leader or co-leader

Makaya & the Tsotsis with Heinz Sauer, Bob Degen, Isla Eckinger
  • ''Happy House''

As sideman

;With Pepper AdamsTwelfth & Pingree Julian
;With Dollar BrandDuke Ellington Presents the Dollar Brand Dollar Brand Plays Sphere Jazz Anatomy of a South African Village The Dream Trio Round Midnight at the Montmartre Blues for a Hip King
;With Johnny DyaniSong for Biko Grand Mother's Teaching
;With Hugh MasekelaHome Is Where the Music Is The African Connection
;With Joe McPheeThe Willisau Concert
;With Marvin Peterson In Antibes Tribute
;With Mal WaldronOne-Upmanship Moods
;With Ben WebsterBen Webster Plays Ballads Plays Duke Ellington
;With others