Luyanda Madope is a multi-talented, award-winning pianist, composer, musical director and producer. Since turning professional at the turn of the millennium, he has steadily produced a number of impactful recordings for a number of influential musicians. Madope brings to his eclectic projects a wealth of experience and expertise acquired for over two decades through working as sideman, songwriter, leader and director.

These groundbreaking works include Asanda Bam’s critically acclaimed Afro-soul album Fragile (2009), which went on to be nominated for a Metro FM Music Award in the best contemporary jazz album category. The versatile producer also lent his Midas touch to Judith Sephuma’s album, I Am a Living Testimony (2011), which went on to receive a Metro FM Music Award nomination in the best contemporary jazz album category in 2011.

The aforementioned projects established Madope as one of the most prolific producers of his generation. Madope’s involvement in McCoy Mrubata’s SAMA award winning project, Brasskap Sessions – at the time of writing three volumes of albums in total – has been an incredible learning experience. On this project he has demonstrated his skills as a composer, arranger and session artist.

The series is a platform for the young and old musicians to interact in a studio environment with the aim of creating music together. The kind of music they create is intended to pay homage to an earlier generation of South African artists who provided the vision. Honoured artists include Taliep Petersen and Moses “Black Moses” Ngwenya. Madope has co-produced Nigerian guitarist Kunle Ayo’s album, Best of Both Worlds, the 2011 winner of the Metro FM Music Award in the best contemporary jazz album category. Madope’s work on Dumza Maswana’s album, Molo sees the producer venture into a contemporary Xhosa influenced space musically.

Luyanda is always keen on venturing into different genres of music and in 2017 he produced the song, Liberty for Nia Pearl featuring Kabomo. The R&B/soul single was well received by music lovers around the country. A FUBA alumnus, Madope’s resume includes working with international artists such as Gerald Albright (USA), Billy Ocean (United Kingdom), Ken Philmore (Trinidad and Tobago) and Soweto Kinch (United Kingdom).

Locally Madope has played with many South African musical greats, notably the late Victor Ntoni, Vusi Khumalo, Ringo Madlingozi, RJ Benjamin, Selaelo Selota, Tsepo Tshola as well as contemporaries like Kabomo, Siphokazi, Mbuso Khoza, Wanda Baloyi and Hlubi Twiin, to name a few. Unsurprisingly, Madope also has theatre work under his belt. He took part in theatre productions by Don Kinch, Vusi Kunene, Aubrey Sekhabi (Mother of Rain) and Vuyani Dance Theatre, to name a few.

He was the musical director in the internationally celebrated musical African Mamas (1988), directed by Netherlands-based producer, Peter Ultee. The production celebrates the strengths, resilience and challenges of African womanhood. In 2010 it was staged at The Playhouse, Durban and featured some of the best local vocal talent such as Vicky Vilakazi with special guest appearances by Abigail Kubeka, Thandi Klaasen and Dorothy Masuka. African Mamas toured Denmark, Holland, Germany, France and Belgium.

He was also called upon by McCoy Mrubata for a musical cultural exchange Norwegian and South African collaboration. Luyanda Madope, together with Kagiso Lediga collaborated on a concept called Jazz and Comedy, which has been running monthly since late 2014 at popular jazz venues like The Orbit in Johannesburg. The Luyanda Madope Quartet has also toured with another popular comedian Celeste Ntuli for her show, Black Tax. This four-piece ensemble includes Sipho Mabena (bass), Billy Monama (guitarist) and drummer Sphelelo Mazibuko but changes line-up constantly depending on the sound the leader wants to explore.

Luyanda Madope has worked as an assistant to musical director, Hlubi Kwebulana for the music production of the annual South African Film and Television Music Awards (SAFTAs) ceremony. In 2018 Madope released a recording project with the brass trio, H3 titled Connecting Generations. H3 is a horn ensemble that consists of Linda Sikhakhane (sax), Sthembiso Bhengu (trumpet) and trombonist, Senzo Ngcobo. This is a collaborative project that celebrates South African composers while making listeners aware of the music that has moved us as a nation.

The project features works by composers such as Thandiswa Mazwai, Feya Faku, Zamajobe and Prince Lengoasa. Faku contributed the track, Gweru on the album. The project also features works of younger performers, composers and writers such as Sakhile Simani and Spha Mdlalose, bringing together the two generations of composers in South African music, which Madope says is the essence of the project.