Benjamin Jephta: "Born coloured – not 'born free'"

Concert by the South African bassist and composer Benjamin Jephta

Bassist and composer Benjamin Jephta has made a name for himself as one of South Africa’s premier double and electric bass players. A graduate of the jazz programme at the University of Cape Town in 2013, he has performed both nationally and internationally since the age of 14 and has worked with notable South African jazz musicians including Hugh Masekela, Sibongile Khumalo and many others. With two albums as a bandleader, Benjamin has been the recipient of many nominations and awards including the prestigious Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz in 2017 and named in the Mail & Guardian “200 Young South Africans” list.

In the context of his Pro Helvetia supported research trip, Benjamin has been invited by the Bird’s Eye Jazz Club in Basel to present his work “Born-Coloured; not Born-Free” through a collaboration with some Swiss based musicians. “In this project I dissect my experience as a so-called ‘Coloured’ born into a post-Apartheid, democratic South Africa,” Benjamin explains, “My aim is to educate, inspire and create a sense of hope, empowerment and unity in the South African experience, rather than alienating with a radical political approach.”

Line-up:

Florian Egli: alto sax
Patrick Joray: tenor sax
Silvan Joray: guitar
Benjamin Jephta: bass
Paulo Almeida: drums

Further shows:

17.09.2022, 16:45-18:00 Theaterplatzfest, Theaterplatz, Basel
16.09.2022, 20:30-22:30 the bird's eye jazz club, Kohlenberg 20, Basel

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