SOLOMON "ZULUBOY" CELE

Jazz Maniacs’ Birthday

by

Walter M. B. Nhlapho

A host of happy faces showed themselves at the Bantu Men’s Social Centre on Thursday, June 11. The eighth anniversary of the Jazz Maniacs dance band was celebrated by a performance that was enjoyable. Items were rendered by lead Joe and his Broadway Stars of Pretoria, Jubilation and his Diamond Horse Shoe Troupe. School Boy and the Kentucky Babies and E. Manyosi as soloist. This function brought together three ace tap dancers in Mad Joe, Jubilation and School Boy. Speaker was Mr. G. R. Kuzwayo. Mr. T. Mdaniso was the master of ceremonies. Dance music was rendered by the Rhythm Clouds Band.

The birth of jazz in Johannesburg started in the late 1920s with
popular brass bands like U-No-Mes of Pretoria, the Gay Arrawaras of Boksburg for which the veteran Phillip Mbanjwa of the African Rhythmers Band was a trombonist. In the 1930s it saw the first band in the Japanese Express, followed by the Merry Blackbirds Band, the Jazz Maniacs, the defunct Rhythm Kings, Ambassadors, the Harmony Kings, the defunct Rhythm Hot Shots, the Rhythm Clouds and the new Jolly Swallows Band. But in all this time the Merry Blackbirds and Jazz Maniacs flourished and were both a success and competing for the foremost seat.

The first lineup in 1934 was as follows: Jacob Madumo---saxophone; Jack Masede---drums; Solomon (Zuluboy) Cele---piano.

This month the Jazz Maniacs celebrated their eighth anniversary and it is pleasant to know that today they occupy one of the colourful riches in the Jazz edifices in Bantu society. They are one of the leading combinations and fine exponents of swing. Unfortunately, the controversy: who is who in the dance band world has not yet been decided between the Blackbirds and Maniacs.

Jazz Maniacs for years have been called a “Marabi band”, but whether so, their music had intensity, brilliancy and sensational drive which is essential in jazz or swing.

Jazz Maniacs is one of the few great bands that can boast that in its development it has had some of the best instrumentalists and has disbanded more than any other band, and thus gave way to the formation of the Harmony Kings, Harlem Swing Aces and the defunct Rhythm Hot Shots. It has had Greats like trumpeter Stephen Monkoe of the Blackbirds, Jacob Madumo, a fine saxophonist now of the African Rhythmers of Benoni; Jimmy one of the finest saxophonists who scraps a band when he has engagement; Fatty Dutywa a bass string with the Blackbirds; Fana Khumalo, a fine drummer now with the Rhythm Clouds. But after each re-organization, the band has been truly good.

Currently they have played in fashionable European nightclubs.

Personnel in 1942: Zuluboy Cele, Wilson Silgee, I. Nkosi---saxophonists; E. Selelo, J. Modiskge---trumpeters; S. Nkosi---trombonist; I. Seyela---drummer; T. Masole---bassist; J. Moeketsi---pianist; E. Manyasi---vocalist.

At the eighth anniversary function the Maniacs presented in two items the future: Jazz Maniacs Orchestra comprising of fifteen players.