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HOTEP IDRIS GALETA was born in Crawford, Cape Town on the 7th of June 1941. He grew up exposed to the rich music culture in and around Cape Town. His first piano lessons came from his father at the age of seven who taught him some basic keyboard skills. In the early 50's he became interested in Jazz as a young teenager after listening to a shortwave radio Jazz programme on the "Voice of America". After meeting Abdullah Ibrahim, (then known as Dollar Brand) at a high school jazz concert in Athlone, the two became close friends and Brand became his mentor.
Hotep or as he was known in the 50's, Cecil Barnard, went on to establish himself as one of the young emerging Jazz pianist on the Cape Town Jazz scene playing in such legendary clubs as the "Naaz" "Zambezi" and the "Vortex" alongside players such as Chris McGregor, Dudu Pukwana, Christopher Mra Ngcukana, Cups and Saucers, Johnny Gertze, George Kussel, Sammy Moritz, Henry Makone, Makaya Ntoshoko, Anthony Schilder and Monty Weber.
Instrumentation:
piano, arranger, bandleader
Genre:
African Jazz, jazz
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All of these individuals had a great influence on his musical development. Hotep left South Africa for London and then New York in 1961 and stayed in exile for thirty years. In the early 60's he obtained a scholarship to study privately with noted Jazz piano educator John Mehegan. He now has a Master's degree with Distinction in Jazz Education and Performance. His discography is quite extensive with over 18 albums and C.D's recorded with a number of American and South African artists. They include, Hugh Masekela, Herb Alpert, John Handy, Letta Mbulu, Jackie McLean, Joshua Redman, Archie Shepp Elyin Jones, Bobby Hutcherson, Woody Shaw and David Crosby and the Byrds.
As a result of his reputation as an internationally recognised Jazz educator and pianist, he was appointed lecturer in Jazz studies to the University of Hartford's Hartt College of Music in Hartford, Connecticut, U.S.A in 1985. This position continued until his return to South Africa in 1991.
Since then he has served as the Musical Director for the Volkswagen sponsored "Music Active" performing arts educational programme for high schools. He has also served as the Music Director for David Kramer and Taliep Peterson's highly acclaimed rock opera "Poison", and as a lecturer in the Music Department at the University of Fort Hare in Alice, the Eastern Cape.
His work at Fort Hare and his location in the Eastern Cape resulted in his playing a key role in establishing the Miriam Makeba Performing Arts Centre, launched in East London in 2006. He relocated to Johannesburg in 2009, and served as a Board member for the Downtown Music Hub.
Aside from his energetic passion as a music educationist, Galeta maintained an active profile as a performer on the live music circuit. He passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in Johannesburg on 03 Nov 2010, following an asthma attack.
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Recordings : Galeta, Hotep Idris(Cecil Barnard)
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Malay Tone Poem
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click here for more about these and other recordings by : Galeta, Hotep Idris
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