KESIVAN AND THE LIGHTS FEATURING FEYA FAKU

Kesivan Naidoo, winner of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz 2009, "caught the beat" at the tender age of 11, falling in love with percussion when he heard his aunt's boyfriend playing the drums over a song on the radio.

Naidoo grew up in East London and studied music at the University of Cape Town. In 1999, he became the youngest person to win the SAMRO Overseas Scholarship Competition, and used this opportunity to study at the prestigious Rhabindra Bharati University in Kolkata, India, studying under sitar guru Sanjay Bandophadyah. No stranger to the national jazz scene, Naidoo has played with the East Cape Big Band (of which he was a founding member), the UCT Big Band and the UCT College Jazz Ensemble.

He has shared the stage with an impressive string of leading South African musicians, including Miriam Makeba, Selaelo Selota, Feya Faku, Bheki Mseleku, Jimmi Dludlu, Marcus Wyatt, Zim Ngqawana, Judith Sephuma, Errol Dyers, Abdullah Ibhrahim, Hotep Galeta and Steve Newman.

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