Mthembu-Salter Powell Project

The Mthembu-Salter Powell project, co-led by Khaya Mthembu-Salter and Adam

Powell, was born from a shared passion for the music of artists like Wayne Shorter and

John Coltrane. Our connection grew as we collaborated in various projects over time,

often booking each other for gigs at venues like The Commons and others.

Our project is rooted in a deep respect for the lineage of jazz. We draw inspiration from

the groundbreaking innovations of American jazz musicians in bebop, hard bop, and

post-bop, while also feeling a profound connection to South African composers like

Bheki Mseleku, Kyle Shepard and Bokani Dyer.

In our compositions, we strive to connect sonically with our musical ancestors. In the

music we cover, we honor the works of great American and South African composers

while embracing both traditional and modern innovations, reflecting the spirit of

continual evolution that defines jazz.