Bakithi Kumalo
… brings his celebrated fretless bass sound to Bethlehem’s Charles A. Brown IceHouse with The South African All-Stars, joined by special guest vocalist Lenore.
Legendary South African bassist Bakithi Kumalo, renowned for his iconic bass lines in Paul Simon’s Graceland album, will grace the stage alongside his talented ensemble, The South African All-Stars. The South African All-Stars are Bakithi Kumalo on bass, Morris Goldberg, who also contributed to the Paul Simon Graceland album, on saxophone and flute, David Bravo on keyboard, and Sipho Kunene with vocals, guitar, and flute. Joining them is the soulful vocalist Lenore, whose voice weaves together traditional and modern influences, showcasing her resilience and appreciation for the world around her. Together, they will take you on a musical journey that blends foot-tapping South African tunes, jazz standards, and world fusion originals. Don’t miss this extraordinary collaboration that promises to leave you spellbound and inspired. (Read more bio below)
8 PM Show | 7 PM Doors
$41.17 ADVANCE | $46.37 DAY OF SHOW
Godfrey Daniels Presents: The 50th Anniversary Series Live at the IceHouse
A four-concert celebration at the Charles A. Brown IceHouse, featuring artists whose reach extends beyond Godfrey Daniels’ intimate room. Showcasing legacy performers, emerging voices, and community partners, the series honors Godfrey Daniels’ long-standing role as a cultural anchor in the Lehigh Valley while bringing its Live Music Listening Room spirit to a larger stage in Bethlehem.
Bakithi Kumalo
Grammy Award-winning bassist Bakithi Kumalo’s musical career has been characterized by a series of serendipitous events, ranging from his debut gig as a precocious seven-year-old filling in for the bassist in his uncle’s band to his enlistment into Paul Simon’s group during the recording sessions of the pop star’s landmark Graceland album in 1985.
Kumalo creates a singular electric fretless bass sound teeming with double stops that sound like human voices and the African grooves of his homeland, which has garnered him a stellar reputation as a sideman. In addition to touring with Simon, he’s also recorded and/or toured with Gloria Estefan, Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, Chico Ceasar, Laurie Anderson, Gerald Albright, Miriam Makeba, Randy Brecker, Grover Washington Jr., Bob James, Angelique Kidjo, Jon Secada, Josh Groban, and Chris Botti. Kumalo has also been active as a solo artist, with five albums to his credit — 1998’s San’ Bonan, 2000’s In Front of My Eyes, 2008’s Transmigration, 2011’s Change, and 2016’s After All These Years.