The Riley G Collective - Joseph's Mind (Album Launch)

The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music proudly presents The Riley G Collective – Joseph’s Mind Album Launch on Wednesday 05 April 2023 at 17:30.

Riley Giandhari on drums.  Riley G as he is fondly known is a drummer, composer, producer, teacher, keyboardist and audio engineer who is based in Durban. Riley started playing drums at the age of 3 and was mainly inspired by his father Pravin Giandhari who is also a professional drummer. At the age of 15, Riley started playing the drums at church with a few gospel bands. Although he has considered degrees in other fields of study, he has always been drawn back to music and therefore enrolled to study Jazz at UKZN in 2013. He currently holds a Masters in Music Degree (Summa Cum Laude) from the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

The much-anticipated album ‘Joseph’s Mind’ is the first of the series ‘The Riley G Collective’.  Joseph is Giandhari’s middle name. The meaning behind the name Joseph means ‘God will increase’. After recording the album with the band, the process of finalizing the post-production took on a layering approach; he found that each track got ‘thicker’, or rather increased in detail. Giandhari chose the title ‘Joseph’s Mind’ to represent his aesthetics in music. The album is colourful in terms of musical colours and textures (both compositionally, and the diverse input of each band member). The title is also a reference to Joseph’s coat of many colours from the Bible.

“The ‘coat of many colours’ in this case represents my aesthetics in music, my compositional choices and ideals, the diversity of the recorded ensemble, and the layering approach throughout the production process” Riley G, 2023.

Featured on the album is Zoe Masuku on voice, Salim Washington on tenor sax, Ethan Naidoo on guitar, Sanele Phakathi on piano, and Prince Bulo on bass. Composition, Arrangements, Production, Effects and Drums by Riley Giandhari.

The album will be launched with incredible Durban-based musicians: Burton Naidoo – Piano and Keyboard, Zibusiso Makhathini – Keyboards, Prince Bulo – Bass, Riley G – Drums and

Special Guests: ZoetheSeed – Voice, Salim Washington – Tenor Sax.