Prelude to CTIJF - Sibusiso Mashiloane’s Mash Trio Live at the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music (UKZN)

In the lead up to his performance at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival in March, pianist and composer Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane returns to the stage with his long-time collaborators Dalisu Ndlazi (bass) and Riley Giandhari (drums) for a performance as the Mash Trio at the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music, UKZN on 18 February 2026.

Rooted in rich African sonic traditions and guided by the trio’s musical connection, Mash Trio’s live set moves between soulfulness, groove, and improvisation. The evening will draw from Mashiloane’s most loved compositions spanning 2016 to 2025, alongside spontaneous moments that can only happen in real time. All shaped by home, memory, and the quiet powerof shared experience.

“Our chemistry is the kind that can’t be manufactured. It’s built over years of listening, really listening, to each other. Expectspecial guests, surprises, and a sound experience that celebrates the heartbeat of the people.” says Sibusiso Mash Mashiloane. He adds: “If you’ve seen Mash Trio before, you already know: we aim to leave people with a feeling they can’tquite name, but they’d want it again.”

At the centre of Mash Trio is Dr Sibusiso Mashiloane, a pianist, composer and UKZN Academic, whose work bridges scholarship and performance. Mashiloane is a senior lecturer at UKZN who holds a PhD in Music with research that explores South African Jazz identity and the cultural “sound of home” that shapes contemporary expression.

Mashiloane is joined by two of South Africa’s most in-demand collaborators: bassist Dalisu Ndlazi, whose tone and musical sensitivity have made him a trusted anchor across contemporary jazz stages. Ndlazi’s musical foundations were shaped in Umlazi, where his journey began at the Siyakhula Community Development Centre.

He was selected as National Schools Big Band bassist at the Standard Bank Youth Jazz Festival (2012), later serving as national youth band bassist from 2015, and in 2019 attended the Louis Armstrong Summer Camp in New Orleans - a milestone that reflects his rising profile on the South African jazz circuit.

Riley Giandhari (Riley G) is a Durban-based drummer, composer and producer who began playing at age three, inspired by his father, drummer Pravin Giandhari. He studied jazz at UKZN and holds a Master’s in Music (Summa Cum Laude), alongside accolades including two SAMRO Overseas Scholarship awards (2018) and Mzansi Jazz Awards nominations (2020) for his artistry and debut album.

The performance will also feature acclaimed saxophonist Sisonke Xonti as a guest artist. As the CTIJF sheds light on artists in their hometowns with activations through Durban and Johannesburg, this event is set to be a powerful prelude to the beloved festival.