Mimi Linda Mtshali has been under the wing of Croatian jazz vocalist Yelena
Revishen, headlined as a lead vocalist for the African and European
Afro-Latin group Tucan Tucan, collaborated with acclaimed, accomplished
vocalist – South Africa’s first lady of song Sibongile Khumalo and has
shared the stage with Jamaican Rita Marley, who is reggae legend Bob
Marley’s widow.
On June 5, at Sandton’s Old Mutual Theatre on the Square, South Africans
are in for a breathtaking performance as they soak in her international
experience for themselves.
The one-day event will see the UCT Jazz Honours graduate – who has been
raising the bar of Afro-jazz locally, having performed alongside Judith
Sephuma, Jimmy Dludlu and Themba Mkhize – serenading the crowd with her
producer and husband, Mdu Mtshali.
The captivating performance will see the audience enjoying tracks from the
Metro FM Award-winning Essence of My Soul album and savouring exclusive
sneak peeks from her upcoming studio sessions, in preparation for her
upcoming offering. But what has always set Mimi apart from her Afro-jazz
counterparts has been her unmistakable live performances. This talent to
entertain was honed under the guidance of respected pioneers including Mike
Campbell and opera expert Professor Virginia Davids.
“Today’s audiences do not simply want a replay of an artist’s CD. They want
an exhilarating show that they cannot experience anywhere else. That is
exactly what people can expect from me on the night,” assures the vocalist.
But Mimi does not only rely on a well-trained voice, a knowledgeable
producer and a vast fan base to maintain her reputation as one of South
Africa’s most prominent Afro-jazz soloists. She has constantly been chosen
to be part of enviable projects, including being a vocalist for the Standard
Bank National Youth Jazz Band and leading the capable ladies of the
four-voice a capella women’s band Mamavox. But it is her exposure to
internationally renowned musicians that has kept her ahead of her
counterparts.
“In my interactions with such respected artists and musicians, I have
garnered a comprehensive understanding of music and this always comes
through in all of my live performances,” she highlights.
Whether this is through Mimi taking them back with the ultra-smooth Uthando
or the infectiously addictive Never Give Up, or even getting her audience to
slow dance between the aisles to Moratuwa, guests are in for an
unforgettable night.
The Theatre on the Square will be transformed into a shrine of Afro-jazz as
Mimi marries her songwriting skills with an enduring live show. Her musical
delivery and artistic excellence are an impressive combination that will
grip any gathered crowd.
This was evident when the demand for her Essence of My Soul album was so
overwhelming; she had to reissue it into the market. This is the kind of
insatiable thirst for her music that she will be performing to on June 5 at
the Old Mutual Theatre on the Square.
