Benjamin Jephta at Hugh's Jazz Club

Benjamin Jephta is a bassist, composer, and educator who has established himself as one of South Africa's premier double and electric bass players. With three albums as a bandleader, several soundtrack compositions, and numerous award nominations and wins, Jephta was recognised in the Mail & Guardian's 200 Young South Africans list and received the prestigious Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz award in 2017.

Jephta’s diverse career includes work as a film and TV composer, scoring for productions on platforms like Netflix and Amazon Prime. His compositions often fuse traditional jazz, funk, hip-hop, and African musical styles, creating soundtracks that are modern yet culturally resonant. After earning his Master's degree from The Berklee Global Jazz Institute in Boston, Jephta moved to New York City, where he performed with acclaimed artists such as Danilo Perez, Terri Lyne Carrington, Jason Palmer, and Dianne Reeves. Currently based in Johannesburg, Jephta balances his time between performing, scoring for film and TV, and lecturing in Jazz Studies and Film Composition at the University of the Witwatersrand, where he mentors the next generation of South African musicians.

The Benjamin Jephta Band is a dynamic jazz ensemble led by the acclaimed bassist and composer. Bringing together some of South Africa's most vibrant jazz voices, the sextet explores the rich tapestry of African music, blending traditional rhythms with contemporary jazz to create a sound that is both rooted and forward-looking.

As a band leader, Benjamin has released 3 solo albums with different variations of this ensemble. Benjamin is a Platoon Artist, although has released all the music was released and produced independently.

The Benjamin Jephta Band has steadily grown its influence within the South African and select international jazz scenes, receiving recognition for both artistic excellence and audience appeal. Our work continues to gain attention across the jazz community and beyond for its creativity, authenticity, and cultural depth.

Achievements and Recognitions

Benjamin has been honoured as the Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz and recognised recognised as a creative trailblazer in the Mail & Guardian's 200 Young South Africans list acknowledging his contributions to the evolution of South African jazz and an innovative approach to music and cultural influence. As a band our projects have received several award nominations, including the South African Music Awards (SAMA) and Metro FM Jazz Awards, which celebrated the cultural impact of our work. In addition, our compositions won the prestigious SAMRO Wawela Award for Best Song and Benjamin the award for the Best Male Artist, highlighting our dedication to crafting original and emotionally impactful music.

Streaming Milestones and Playlists

Among a decent monthly listenership, their latest release, "Born Coloured, Not Born-Free," surpassed 1 million streams across platforms within just a few months of its release.

Spotify: Featured in "State of Jazz", "Fresh Jazz Find", and our track "Ben-Dhlamini Stomp" was listed among the Best Jazz Songs of 2023 and "Fresh Finds Jazz: Best of 2023".

Apple Music: The title track, "Born-Coloured, Not Born-Free (Resurgence)," was highlighted on playlists such as "Jazz in Spatial Audio", "Jazz Currents", "Jazz Chill", and "Piano Bar"

Doors open at 18:00

The show begins promptly at 19:30

Please refer to our website for FAQ's.

www.hughs.co.za

Tickets are non-refundable