Name: Nduduzo Makhathini
Start: 2026-05-16T19:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-05-16T22:00:00-04:00
Location: Caffè Vivace - Cincinnati, OH

Since his Blue Note debut in 2020, South African pianist and composer Nduduzo Makhathini has emerged as one of the most compelling spiritual voices in contemporary jazz. A Zulu healer and educator, Makhathini approaches improvisation as a sacred act — music not merely as expression, but as communion. His work has been praised by The New York Times for its authenticity and devotion to ancestral practice at a time when “spiritual jazz” has often been reduced to trend.
His latest suite, uNomkhubulwane, reaches even deeper. Named for the Zulu rain goddess associated with balance, fertility, and abundance, the project unfolds as a three-part journey through mourning, cleansing, and transcendence. Drawing on ritual, chant, groove, and luminous lyricism, Makhathini creates music that feels both ancient and urgently present.
Joined by bassist Zwelakhe-Duma Bell le Pere and drummer Francisco Mela, Makhathini leads a trio whose interplay is intuitive and transportive. Together, they shape an immersive experience — one that honors African spiritual cosmology while speaking powerfully to modern audiences. This is music as meditation, as prayer, and as invitation.
A $15 drink/food minimum is charged per person in the party, per set, if the total for beverages purchased by the party does not meet the minimum.
Important Notices:
Tickets for this performance are non-refundable. If you are unable to attend, a one-time transfer to a future show of equal value will be accepted. The transfer must be requested 24 hours before the start of the performance.