Kunnuji’s profound knowledge and experience of jazz as a trumpeter and arranger opened the way for establishing a quality jazz ensemble, thereby renewing the quest for jazz at the Odeion School of Music OSM.

Mid-Morning Magic’s Yolanda Maartens is joined by Dr Joseph in the OFM Art Beat to chat more about CoR, his appointment and to make some music.

Dr Joseph is a Senior Lecturer in Ethnomusicology and African Musics at the Odeion School of Music. With a background in jazz studies, the Orthodox Church hymn-singing tradition and a few cosmopolitan African genres, Kunnuji’s teaching, research, compositions and performances reflect the inherent intersection of different worlds.

The ensemble’s focus for this concert will be on mainstream jazz as represented by the so-called Classical or Bebop period in its history (the mid-1940s to mid-1960s) characterised by the music of prominent figures of the time such as Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie and John Coltrane.  The ensemble consists of five versatile and seasoned musicians, namely Joseph Kunnuji (trumpet), Claire Röntsch (saxophone) Nicol Viljoen (piano and keyboard), Marc Röntsch (bass; also newly appointed at the OSM) and John Smit (drums). To find out more visit the Odeion School of Music.