Dan Sibale opens new jazz chapter
Jazz music in Malawi is perceived as a genre played in hotels and dinner functions for the corporate, but celebrated saxophonist Dan Sibale is bound to change the perception.
Best known for his skills on the saxophone, Sibale has opened a new page in his music profession as he goes full time into jazz music, with full live performances and albums to follow.
“The direction we are taking now is that people should expect jazz albums done by Malawians and jazz shows accessible by all.
“For example, Wambali has just released a jazz album which is going to be performed on July 25 at Bicc [in Lilongwe] of which I am leading,” said Sibale.
Kick-starting his new journey, Sibale will tonight be performing at the Champions Sports Bar in Lilongwe in a jazz concert that he has dubbed Dan & Friends.
It promises to be an exciting concert looking at the line-up of friends Sibale has roped into his first show. They include Lulu, Ernest Ikwanga, Lemekeza Phiri and Sam Mjura Mkandawire.
“I have invited these friends to help me on the journey. Lulu will be on the guitar, Leme will do the piano, Sam will do the drums and Ikwanga will do the guitar too,” he disclosed.
Dan Sibale started his music career in the early 1990s as a keyboard player. It was during this period that he joined Chechamba School of Music to learn how to read and write music and that is when he developed his interest in the horn, which he started playing in 2001.
In 2003, the late Chuma Soko, familiarised him to Malawian mainstream music and three months after Sibale started playing the sax, Soko introduced him to Wambali.
