Early Years
Legendary jazz musician Victor Ntoni was known for his impeccable skills on bass, but more so for his composing and arranging of music. Ntoni found inspiration for his music and compositions from township culture; the corner street vocal groups and big bands who played at social gatherings and shebeens.
Born in 1947, Ntoni got his love for music from his mother, a singer, and his uncle, a pianist. He learnt to sing and play guitar before switching to the double bass. As a young musician from the Langa township in Cape Town, Ntoni was mentored by Aspro Sipoyo and grew up alongside legendary jazz singer Sylvia Mdunyelwa. Ntoni then went on to form the band Uptown Sextet, which performed locally.
Later, Ntoni caught the attention of Dollar Brand, now known as Abdullah Ibrahim a South African pianist and composer, who became one of Ntoni’s mentors. He also featured on Ibrahim’s album, Peace. In 1975, Ntoni gained international experience and went on to tour with Joan Brickhill-Burke and Louis Burke’s production of the musical ‘Meropa’ as their musical director. He also collaborated with legendary jazz musician Dudu Pukwana in 1978.
Master Musician and Composer
As the apartheid era heightened, Ntoni went into exile with other SA musicians. In 1979, he started composing and arranging music for iconic jazz player Hugh Masekela and his band in New York, USA. His songs were complex and required indigenous talent from South African musicians to be performed.
Ntoni’s composition Nomalizo is included on Masekela’s album Sixty. Ntoni was an exceptionally talented composer. His music was an infusion of local flair that reflected hope and love of South African culture during a time when hope was scarce for many. The pain and hardships many marginalized musicians went through during the apartheid years seeps through Ntoni’s compositions.
He expertly mixed all the elements of township culture and traditional South African Jazz into his music. In the 1980’s, Ntoni returned from exile and became the musical director of the Carling Circle of Jazz festival. In 1989 he and pianist Darius Brubeck formed Afro Cool Concept, a band that toured Southern Africa as well as the United States, Thailand and Europe.
Two members of the group, Barney Rachabane (sax) and Lulu Gontsana (drums) were already successful jazz musicians in their own right. When President Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1994, Ntoni wrote the welcome song ‘The People Want Mandela’ for the project. In 2000, Ntoni produced the SAMA-award winning album Ingoma for childhood-friend and jazz singer Sylvia Mdunyelwa. It included an all-star band, featuring the likes of Vusi Khumalo, McCoy Mrubata, Fana Zulu and Basie Mahlasela.
Ntoni released his album Heritage in 2004, which was nominated for a South African Music Award (SAMA) in the Best Contemporary Jazz Album category. Ntoni had a passion for organising, arranging, directing and conducting music. His passions came to life when he worked on the production ‘Mzansi Sings a Tribute to OR Tambo’, which fused jazz, choral and traditional music.
The production consisted of an 18-piece big band, thirty voices and ten strings. Some of the established musicians featured were Barney Rachabane, Lawrence Mtshiza, Sydney Mavundla and Feya Faku. Following a tour of the United Kingdom and Europe, the production was performed at Oliver Tambo’s 90th birthday commemoration on in 2007. Ntoni died in 2013 due to a heart attack.
His death was a great loss to the South African Jazz community. He will always be revered for being a master composer and multi-talented musician.