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Port Elizabeth Saxophonist Part of SAMA Award Winning Band

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Eastern Cape saxophonist, Phumlani Mtiti is part of the SAMA Award winning jazz band, Ological Studies. The Cape Town based group was announced as the winners of the 2011 South African Music Award for the Best Contemporary Jazz Album on Saturday, May 21. The group was up against jazz giants Jonathan Butler and Carlo Mombelli.

The band’s 11 track album entitled “Free- Dom” has produced a number of hits including Latest Groove, The Gathering Of Great Minds, and Siyabangena. In the album, Ological Studies combines a number of different genres including African Jazz, Gospel, R ‘n’ B and House music into one product.

Phumlani Mtiti was born and raised in the Eastern Cape and made his mark on the music industry when his family moved from Mthatha to Port Elizabeth where he attended Victoria Park High and Edu College.

“I started the saxophone at age 16, and that’s when I met Zim Ngqawana, who mentored me,” says Mtiti. “I toured with him to Norway, and also went on a tour of Europe during my matric year.”

Mtiti described winning a SAMA award as an unbelievable and exciting experience. “There’s an element of excitement mixed with shock, especially considering that we came up against Johnathan Butler and Carlo Mombelli,” says Mtiti.

According to Mtiti, the band started performing together when he went to study at the University of Cape Town (UCT). It was here that Mtiti met his business partner, Sibusiso Dlamini with whom he started a recording company, Ological Studies Productions.

Mtiti sent out words of encouragement to artists in the Eastern Cape, urging them to reach for their dreams and remain hard working and committed all the time. “The message I have for the artists in Eastern Cape area, is that they must aim high and strive to fulfil their dreams, but this must be accompanied by discipline,” he says.

In addition to winning the SAMA, Mtiti also highlighted that their recording company, “Ological Studies Productions” is searching for up-and-coming artists for their development programmes, throughout the country.  “Currently we are looking for five young artists who are serious about their music career. We will help them with recording and possibly reach a higher level in the South African Music Industry.”

Phumlani Mtiti
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Siyathetha

Ed Richardson is the managing director and brain behind the Siyathetha brand and is rumoured to be one of the most effective weapons of mass communication in the Eastern Cape. See more articles by Siyathetha.