Andile Yenana
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Andile Yenana is a South African pianist. He made an indelible mark by switching from teaching to studying jazz. He has produced and worked with many South African as well as international artists.


Early years

Born in 1968 in
King William's Town Qonce, formerly King William's Town, is a town in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa along the banks of the Buffalo River (Eastern Cape), Buffalo River. The town is about northwest of the Indian Ocean port of East London, South Africa, ...
, Andile's love for music was triggered at an early age. He grew up in a household where music was really loved. His father, Felix Thamsanqa Yenana, had a huge collection of music, ranging from jazz to
Motown Motown is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. Founded by Berry Gordy, Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, it was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau ...
, and other forms of urban black music
music.org.za
and this had a huge influence in Andile's life. Andile took up music studies under Darius Brubeck at the
University of Natal The University of Natal was a university in the former South African province Natal which later became KwaZulu-Natal. The University of Natal no longer exists as a distinct legal entity, as it was incorporated into the University of KwaZulu- ...
's School of Jazz and Popular Music It was here that he became friends with saxophonist Zim Ngqawana and trumpeter
Feya Faku Fezile "Feya" Faku (6 June 1962 – 23 June 2025) was a South African trumpeter and flugelhornist. Recognized for his contributions to jazz, Faku built a significant international presence, collaborating with prominent musicians and participatin ...
. He joined Zim Ngqawana quartet and worked with Zim Ngqawana on all 5 of his albums, including ''San Song'' recorded with Bjorn Ole Solburg and his Norwegian San Ensemble. He has also worked on the pan-African music project Mahube with saxophonist Steve Dyer and others. He has also worked as arranger for
Sibongile Khumalo Sibongile Khumalo (24 September 1957 – 28 January 2021) was a South African singer and songwriter. She sang Classical music, classical, jazz, opera and traditional Music of South Africa, South African music. She was noted for singing at the in ...
, Gloria Bosman and Suthukazi Arosi. In 2005 he was selected as the 2005 Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz.


Discography

*''We Used To Dance'' (2002) *''Who's Got The Map?'' (2005) *''One Night At The Market Theatre'' (with the Azania Dreaming Big Band, 2021)


Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yenana, Andile 1968 births Living people South African jazz musicians People from Qonce Musicians from the Eastern Cape 21st-century South African pianists