RADIO STATION

It's true that knowledge is power when it comes to Radio Station, a six-piece band which was founded in 2006 by Brian Maluleke at the Music Academy of Gauteng, where all the members studied. The band – which includes Maluleke as the band leader on bass guitar, Senzo Nxumalo on drums and bass guitar, Thabang Motloung as the piano player, who also blows the trombone, Oscar Kgwari as the alto saxophone player, Mxolisi Lepele on trumpet, and Kekgorogile Makgathle on trombone, drums and piano – is destined for greatness. Sans a vocalist, the band has aspired to become a mouthpiece for the younger generation and this, they say, is alluded to by their name, Radio Station. By definition, this implies that the music that they create is meant to speak to diverse audiences and reach as many people as possible through the air waves.

To hear Radio Station's vibrant and youthful style of jazz is an experience that gives young people a new perspective on the expansive history of jazz worldwide, reminiscent of an era when some of the greatest jazz icons such as Dizzy, Mingus and Bird reigned supreme. This makes sense, considering that Radio Station’s influences include some of the greatest jazz bands of all time such as the Count Basie Orchestra and the big band concept.

Inspired heavily by the roots of jazz, Radio Station, who draw heavily on their musicianship and the process of developing ideas together as a collective, describe their sound as a throwback to 1920s-style jazz hailing from the effervescent, vibrant streets of Harlem and New Orleans, where jazz was coming into its own, layered with fusion, avant-garde and lots more.

Since the band’s inception in 2008, fuelled by their commendable work ethic, Radio Station has played extensively at jazz clubs like Niki’s, Bassline and the Boksburg Civic Theatre, as well as youth centres and churches, receiving an overwhelming response from their local community as well as the jazz community at large. Hard to believe, but this six-piece ensemble of 20- something musicians have the skill level, passion, confidence and drive of seasoned jazz veterans.

Something that is very close to this determined group of young musicians is their community involvement in mentoring and nurturing kids as young as eight years old to find the same love of music that they discovered growing up. In essence, it is important to Radio Station to empower the communities which they come from and give hope to the hopeless through jazz.

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