A Moment in Music History: Kesivan & The Lights Record New Album Live at the Baxter – One Night Only
A Moment in Music History: Kesivan & The Lights Record New Album Live at the Baxter – One Night Only
Saturday, 10 May 2025 | Baxter Concert Hall | Tickets via Webtickets| Student Discounts
The ‘Freedom in Sound’ national tour reaches its historic crescendo in the Mother City on Saturday, 10 May 2025, when Kesivan & The Lights take the stage at the iconic Baxter Concert Hall for one extraordinary night - a performance that will be captured live for the band’s upcoming album and documentary – and you’re invited to be part of the audience vibe.
Celebrating 30 years of South African democracy through jazz, this special concert marks the culmination of a powerful musical journey that began at Journey to Jazz in Prince Albert, swept through Durban and Johannesburg, and now comes home to Cape Town - where many of these jazz brothers first found their voices.
But this isn’t just another gig. This is a live album audience experience, where the energy in the room becomes part of the recording. A rare opportunity to witness the making of a landmark album that honours South Africa’s jazz giants - from Bheki Mseleku to Abdullah Ibrahim - while weaving in brand-new compositions and re-imaginings that speak to the present and future of this vibrant genre.
Kesivan Naidoo, the internationally acclaimed drummer, composer, and bandleader now based in Basel, is joined by a remarkable ensemble:
- Bokani Dyer (piano)
- Darren English (trumpet)
- Charley Rose (saxophone, France)
- Fabio Gouvêa (guitar, Brazil)
- Joan Codina (bass, Spain)
Notably, three members of the ensemble - Kesivan Naidoo, Bokani Dyer, and Darren English - are alumni of the University of Cape Town’s South African College of Music (UCT SACM). Their return to the Baxter stage is more than symbolic - it’s a celebration of roots, growth, and the power of South African musical education on a global stage.
“This is more than a concert,” says Kesivan. “It’s a time capsule. A collective expression of where we’ve come from, and where we’re going. This album will live on – and the audience becomes part of that story.”
Expect explosive improvisation, never-before-heard arrangements, tributes to the fallen legends of SA jazz, and even an electrifying feature of Mandela’s iconic release speech - reimagined as part of the ensemble’s sonic tapestry.
Tickets available via Webtickets. Doors open at 18h30. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this once-in-a-generation live recording. Students can now book online at Webtickets and buy at the box office: R200 per student.
Follow the journey:
www.kesivan.net
Instagram: @kesivannaidoo
Facebook: /kesivan.naidoo.3
#Freedominsound
For media enquiries, interviews, or images, contact:
Kaz Henderson | kaz@networxpr.co.za
