- Hotep Idris Galeta
Hotep Idris Galeta (born in 1941) is a
South Africa njazz pianist and educator. His legal name at birth was Cecil Galeta, but according to local custom he was more commonly known as a child and young man as Cecil Barnard, his father's first name being used instead of a last name.In his teens he played with some of the best jazz musicians in South Africa;
Abdullah Ibrahim (then known as Dollar Brand) andLamie Zukufu introduced him tobebop andhard bop . In 1961 he left South Africa clandestinely, following many other South African performers to theUnited Kingdom (severe restrictions on public gatherings following theSharpeville massacre had made entertainment careers impossible for any but white artists, and the already poor quality of life for non-whites was deteriorating rapidly asapartheid became ever stricter). After a year in the United Kingdom he moved to theUnited States , where he remained till 1991, when he returned to South Africa following the collapse of apartheid.In the United States he played and recorded with
Herb Alpert ,John Handy ,Bobby Hutcherson ,Elvin Jones ,Hugh Masekela ,Jackie McLean ,Mario Pavone ,Joshua Redman , andArchie Shepp . Outside jazz he performed and recorded withDavid Crosby and theByrds . In 1985, Jackie McLean invited him to teach atThe Hartt School of theUniversity of Hartford , where he taught until his return to South Africa. He continues to record, perform, and teach in South Africa. His teaching engagements have included four years on the faculty of theUniversity of Fort Hare , the musical directorship of a national music education program for high schools, and co-ordination of music outreach programs inCape Town .Including his performance and visiting lecturer schedules he is currently the Project Manager for the establishment of a school of jazz and a multi media audio visual production center at the University of Fort Hare's new urban campus in the east coast South African city of East London in theEastern Cape Province .
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