McCoy Mrubata and Siyabulela

One of the country’s most influential figures in shaping the sound and direction of post-apartheid South African Jazz, McCoy Mrubata stands today as a true living legend of the music. Originally hailing from Cape Town’s Langa township, Mrubata grew up immersed in the many sounds of South African music, from traditional Xhosa works, to the sounds of the church, to the jam sessions of Cape Town’s Jazz master musicians. Dropping out of school in 1976 following the country’s youth uprising against apartheid, Mrubata began studying music with some of Langa’s icons like Winston Mankunku Ngozi, Ezra and Duke Ngcukana, and more. Starting out on pennywhistle and flute, Mrubata ultimately found his way to the saxophone, mastering the full family of instruments. Drawing upon the rich saxophone tradition established by elder masters like Mankunku and Ezra Ngcukana, Mrubata would ultimately forge a playing style that both honors and expands upon the richly lyrical saxophone legacy of South Africa, in doing so becoming one of the nation’s most heralded tenor players.

Working in Jazz bands and in pop cover bands into the 1980s, Mrubata finally enjoyed a major breakthrough when his playing came to the attention of music superstar Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, who invited him to join the legendary popular group Harari as it embarked on international tours. With Mabuse’s help, Mrubata also relocated to Johannesburg, where he came to the attention of producer and talent scout Koloi Lebona. Through Lebona, Mrubata would record and release his first album as a bandleader, Firebird in 1989. Continuing to perform and tour (including embarking on an international tour with the supergroup Stimela, as well as a subsequent stint with the legendary Hugh Masekela), Mrubata would also form his own ensembles—McCoy’s Brotherhood, Cape to Cairo, and McCoy and Friends—all to tremendous acclaim.

In the 1990s, McCoy Mrubata would ultimately cement his position as one of South Africa’s greatest Jazz artists through a series of recordings released with the Sheer Sound label. Beginning with 1997’s Tears of Joy, Mrubata would quickly affirm his position as a leading saxophone voice and a remarkable composer. Subsequent albums including Phosa Ngasemva, Hoelykit?, Face the Music, and more would garner even further acclaim and awards, including multiple SAMAs (South African Music Awards).  Having released 12 albums as a bandleader, as well as an additional seven as co-leader in collaborative projects, Mrubata stands to this day as one of the most influential figures in South African Jazz, a veritable living legend whose work is widely admired and imitated by subsequent generations of artists.

With a growing international profile, including appearing in 2019 as a featured soloist alongside Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, Mrubata now prepares to release his first album with a United States label. Lullaby for Khayoyo, his 21st album in a leadership role, unites American and South African artists together for one of the most thoughtful, swinging, and profound albums of his already storied career.