Bheki Mseleku


Main image

Born: 3rd March 1955 Natal, South Africa
Died: 9th September 2008 England

Proper recognition of this fine multi-instrumentalist's (piano, composer, vocals, saxophone, guitar) talents seemed long in coming, but since 1991 this modest and dignified performer has been very much in the limelight
touring internationally and releasing several albums with major record labels, as well as featuring on some massive releases from other artists.

Bheki Mseleku arrived on the Johannesburg music scene in 1975 as an electric organ player for an R&B outfit, and has over time adapted and grown into one of the world's finest musicians.
He is one of a number of supremely talented musicians who left South Africa and its oppressive apartheid system to take up residence in London, leaving South Africa's shores in the late 70's.

After extensive touring around Europe and the U.K., his debut performance at Ronnie Scott's in London 1987 saw him teaming up with some of the more prominent figures from London's Jazz revival scene.
This eventually lead to the release of his star-studded debut album Celebration in 1991, featuring the likes of Courtney Pine, Steve Williamson, Eddie Parker, Jean Toussaint, Michael Bowie and Marvin Smith
The album was well received and supported with a heavy touring schedule, and a deserved nomination for British Mercury Music Prize for Album Of The Year.

ALBUMS


APPEARANCES +


Various
Mr Bongo Record Club Volume Six
2023
Quentin Collins, All Star Quintet
A Day In The Life
2020
Hexagonal
McCoy and Mseleku
2018, CD, Album, Hexagonal Records
Robert Mitchell 3IO
The Embrace
2011, CD, Album, 3IO Records
Julian Joseph
Live At The Vortex In London
2011, CD, Album, ASC Records
Suns Of Arqa
Stranger Music
2011, ,
Dub/Neo-Classical/Downtempo/Tribal
Abbey Lincoln
Through the Years
2010, 3xCD, Comp, Universal Music France, Verve Records, Universal Music Jazz France,
Various
Africa Straight Ahead
2004, CD, Comp, Dig, Heads Up International
Abbey Lincoln
It's Me
2003, CD,
Joe Claussell
Music... A Reason To Celebrate
2002, 12", Promo, Spiritual Life Music, ,
Soul-Jazz/African/Contemporary Jazz/Disco
Joe Claussell
Music... A Reason To Celebrate
2002, 6x12", Comp, Promo + Box, Spiritual Life Music, ,
Soul-Jazz/Bossanova/House/Disco/Latin/Funk
Various
Wildlife Supersampler
2000, CD, Comp, Enh, Ltd, Wildlife (2), ,
Breakbeat/Experimental/Ambient
Sibongile Khumalo
Immortal Secrets
2000, CD, Album, Columbia,
Various
The Rough Guide To South African Jazz
2000
Various
Verve Today 97
1997, CD, Comp, Verve Records, Motor Music, ,
Soul-Jazz/Contemporary Jazz/Soul
Various
The Rough Guide To The Music Of South Africa
1997, CD, ,
African/Cape Jazz
Graham Haynes
Transition
1995, CD, ,
Abstract/Future Jazz
Various
Next Generation Volume.1 / ネクスト・ジェネレーション Vol.1
1995, CD, ,
Fusion/Contemporary Jazz
Various
The Best Jazz Is Played With Verve / Verve Célèbre Cinquante Grandes Années De Jazz
1994, Cass, Comp, Promo, Dol, Verve 50th Anniversary, Verve 50th Anniversary
Rodney Kendrick
Dance World Dance
1994, ,
Contemporary Jazz
Jean Toussaint
What Goes Around
1992, CD, Album, World Circuit
Courtney Pine
To The Eyes Of Creation
1992, CD, ,
Post Bop
Jonas Gwangwa
Flowers Of The Nation
1990, ,
Cape Jazz
Various
African Horns
1989
Cleveland Watkiss
Green Chimneys
1989, Vinyl, ,
Vocal/Bop/Modal
George Fenton And Jonas Gwangwa
Cry Freedom (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
1987, Vinyl Gatefold, ,
Soundtrack/African
Winston Mankunku*
Jika
1986, ,
Cape Jazz
Hugh Masekela
Waiting For The Rain
1985
Various
Africa Roots Vol. One
1983, LP, Album, Comp, Milkyway Records, ,
African
Barracuda
Special Reggae Volume 2
1975
Almon Memela
Funky Africa
1975
Christian Nombewu And His Chaps
Handbag / Newspaper No. 1
7", Single, Inkonkoni
Various
Matsuli Music (Mzanzi Afro Jazz Sounds)
2016
Various
Jazz Heritage A Tribute Album
2010, CD, Comp, Sheer Group
Various
Experience South Africa
2008, 2xCD, Comp, Nascente, ,
African/Cape Jazz/Roots Reggae/Gospel/Folk/Kwaito
Various
Freedom Jazz The Sound Of The New South Africa
2008, CD, Comp, Sheer Sound
Various
Township Jazz - A Musical History
2007, CD, Comp, Sheer Sound
Various
North Sea Jazz Festival 2000-2004 Africa's Grandest Gathering
2004, 2xCD, Comp, North Sea Jazz Festival, Sheer Sound, ,
Afrobeat/Cape Jazz/Smooth Jazz/Contemporary Jazz
Joe Claussell
Music... A Reason To Celebrate
2002, 2x CD, ,
Latin/Downtempo/Disco
Joe Claussell
Music... A Reason To Celebrate / Un Dia Bonito
2001, ,
House/Latin/Disco
Various
World Soul
1997, CD, Comp, Jazz & Τζαζ, ,
Contemporary Jazz/Folk
Various
Vertigo ! N° 2 - Le Carnet Des Nouvelles Tendances Du Jazz
1997, CD, Comp, Verve Records
Various
Verve Soundscan #1
1997, CD, Promo, Smplr, Verve Records,
Various
Verve - The Next Generation
1996, CD, Comp, Promo, Verve Records,
Contemporary Jazz
Various
Oris London Jazz Festival
1996, CD, Promo, BBC Music, Verve Records,
Various
The Next Generation
1996, CD, Comp, Promo, Smplr, Verve Records, ,
Contemporary Jazz/Post Bop/Fusion/Soul-Jazz/Smooth Jazz
Various
Chacun Cherche Son Chat (Bande Originale Du Film)
1996, CD, ,
Soundtrack
Various
Verve: The Next Generation
1995, CD, Comp, Promo, Verve Records
Various
Jazz Moods
1995
Various
Verve - Next Generation Volume 1
1995, ,
Contemporary Jazz/Jazz-Funk/Smooth Jazz/Swing
Various
The Best Jazz Is Played With Verve (Your Guide To North Sea Jazz Festival 1994)
1994, 2xCD, Comp, Verve Records,
Various
PolyGram Classics & Jazz New Releases April 94
1994, CD, Advance, Comp, Promo, PolyGram Records, Inc.
Various
The 1992 Mercury Music Prize Sampler
1992, ,
Alternative Rock/Pop Rock/Indie Rock/Modern Classical/Synth-pop/Downtempo/Shoegaze
Various
Verve New Releases July 1997
CD, Comp, Promo, Verve Records
Beatenberg
Africa In Your Earbuds! #33
2012, File, MP3, Mixed, Unofficial, 320, Okayafrica.
Joe Henderson
Live
CD, Unofficial, Jazz Door, Jazz Door, ,
Hard Bop/Contemporary Jazz
Joe Henderson Quartet
Jazz In Marciac 1994
2xCDr, Unofficial, Jazztime (3), Jazztime (3)