Sizwe Sibiya
Embracing the warm summer season and its bright colours with his latest single “Summertime” from his third studio album Unmerited Favour released in April 2021, singer Hendrick Monyeki closed the gap between two iconic music genres, gospel and jazz.
Featuring Prince Lengoasa playing the trumpet solo on the jazz single, Hendrick from New Eersterus in Hammanskraal released the music video for “Summertime” which is a recording from a live concert on Saturday 11 September on YouTube.
“I was paying Tribute 2 SA Jazz Legends,” said Hendricks whose album which was released in April 2021 just got nominated “for Best Traditional Gospel Album at the 8th Ingoma (Music) Awards 2021.
The 36-year-old who is also a music teacher at the Music Academy of Gauteng in Benoni, Ekurhuleni where he also did his studies in Performing Arts between 2006 and 2009, said even though his album and career is made up of gospel music, he does not want to be classified an artist of a particular genre.
“Music is bigger than what we most of the time think it is. We always put it in a box. As a performer and singer, I can do anything I feel at that moment and I don’t want to be restricted because I am considered as a “Jazz Singer,” he added.
Hendricks has worked with greats like Jonas Gwangwa, Sibongile Khumalo and Johnny Mekoa, the late founder of the Music Academy of Gauteng to name a few.
“It’s been a great journey of 17 years since I’ve started professionally,” said Hendricks who has travelled many countries doing music and even performed at the Presidential Inauguration of the former president Jacob Zuma in 2009.
Video source: YouTube
Image source: Supplied
