Bheki Mseleku Biography
Bheki Mseleku: A Jazz Maestro’s Journey
Bheki Mseleku, born on March 3, 1955, and passing away on September 9, 2008, was a legendary jazz musician from South Africa. He was a multi-talented artist, known for his skills as a pianist, saxophonist, guitarist, composer, and arranger, all of which he taught himself.
Mseleku grew up in a household where music was both loved and restricted. His father, a Cambridge University music graduate, had religious beliefs that hindered his children’s access to the family piano. Despite this, Mseleku found his way to the keys, but tragically, the piano was later used as firewood. Additionally, he lost the upper joints of two fingers in a childhood accident, further complicating his musical journey.
His musical career began in Johannesburg in 1975, playing the electric organ for an R&B band called Spirits Rejoice. He then embarked on a journey that took him to the Newport Jazz Festival in 1977, Botswana, London, and Stockholm before settling in London permanently in the late 1970s.
In 1987, Mseleku made his debut at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club, marking the beginning of his rise to international acclaim. His 1991 album “Celebration,” featuring Courtney Pine and other British artists, was nominated for a Mercury Music Prize. This led to a series of albums with Verve, collaborating with renowned musicians like Joe Henderson, Abbey Lincoln, and Elvin Jones.
Mseleku’s contributions were recognized with a KORA All Africa Music Award for “Best Instrumentalist (Southern Africa)” in 1996. His last album released during his lifetime, “Home at Last” (2003), reflected on the concept of home as a spiritual construct.
In 2021, a posthumous solo piano recording titled “Beyond the Stars” was released, showcasing Mseleku’s journey through sound. Despite his talent and achievements, Mseleku faced personal struggles, including diabetes and bipolar disorder. He left behind nine children and a legacy of musical brilliance.
Mseleku’s final years were spent in London, where he struggled to find recognition for his skills. His home was burgled in 1994, causing him profound distress, especially with the loss of John Coltrane’s mouthpiece, given to him by Alice Coltrane.
In the last two years of his life, Mseleku formed a new band in London and made memorable appearances across the country, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire jazz lovers worldwide.