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All that jazz: Makalisa — accomplished composer

Life & Style
Jazz musician Tich Makalisa is an accomplished composer who is very gifted and is passionate about his art. His chosen instruments for musical expression are the piano and the keyboards. With an internationally recognised Grade 8 qualification in piano and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Honors Degree in Jazz Composition and Arrangement from the […]

Jazz musician Tich Makalisa is an accomplished composer who is very gifted and is passionate about his art.

His chosen instruments for musical expression are the piano and the keyboards. With an internationally recognised Grade 8 qualification in piano and a Bachelor of Arts in Music Honors Degree in Jazz Composition and Arrangement from the University of Cape Town; Makalisa is one of Zimbabwe’s finest formally trained musicians of our time.

“Young musicians in Zimbabwe do not focus on training, practicing and rehearsing their art. They want to take short cuts without putting any effort on quality.

“The momentary local fame they attain after their recordings receive airplay gets to their heads and as a result they stop growing artistically; they fade away with neither commercial success nor having left a lasting impression,” said the composer cum music producer an interview NewsDay recently.

In addition to his international performing commitments, Makalisa also owns Footprints Music. The recording studio specialises in music for media encompassing soundtracks for feature films, documentaries, commercials and audio recording.

He said: “My vision is to write music for film and ultimately have my name on the credits of Hollywood’s international blockbuster films. My passion was ignited when I used to watch the TV soap operas Dallas and Dynasty as a young boy. After each screening I would get up and practice the soundtracks on the piano at home.”

Internationally, he has performed and recorded with jazz icons Judith Sephuma, Selaelo Selota, Jimmy Dludlu, Max Vidima, Ivan Mazuze, Errol Dyers, Moreira Chonguica, Andrew Young (UK) and Andre Segone (France).

The 35-year-old Makalisa has also performed at international festivals including the North Sea Jazz festival in The Netherlands and the London Jazz festival. The talented pianist has toured extensively across the world. His art has taken him to the musical hot-spots in countries such as Mozambique, Brazil, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and France.

At home, he has worked with Zimbabwe’s finest jazz musicians including Paul Lunga, Brian Paul, Sam Mataure and pop diva Kudzai Sevenzo. Tich has a diverse composition style.

His credits include creating music for various wildlife films and documentaries and commercials for international brands.

Between 2006 and 2008 Makalisa worked as a composer and jingle writer for Barry Kirsch Productions, a leading Middle East audio production company based in Dubai. During this time he composed music for the advertisements of global brands including Dubai Properties, Mamuth, Royco, Bokomo and Isuzu.

Locally he has composed music for brands such as Tel-One, Carswell Meats and Mica.

He has also composed original songs for various artists including Selaelo Selota and Andre Segone. As a young boy Tich drew inspiration from his late father, Judah Makalisa who was a band master in the Salvation Army Band.

With a passion ignited in the home environment he began classical piano lessons at the tender age of seven.

“Growing up, peer pressure was my biggest obstacle and I almost lost my focus on music because of it. However I managed to overcome this because my parents were very supportive and I am now proud to say my passion for music also gives me a decent living and a great sense of fulfillment,” he said.

Makalisa is currently working on a library music album and a documentary about Sudanese refugees living in America.

He is also writing songs for his debut jazz album that will be recorded next year. In 2011 he was the musical director of the Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA) opening show and also performed at the festival with acclaimed saxophonist Ivan Mazuze.