Nduduzo Makhathini grew up on the east coast of South Africa, in a community where music and rituals were closely entertwined. But the church and the music of legendary South African jazz artists such as Bheki Mseleku, Moses Molelekwa and Abdullah Ibrahim also played a big role in his youth. During his studies in American jazz, his preference for the music of John Coltrane and pianist McCoy Tyne came to the fore. In recent years, Makhathini has once again played himself into the spotlight in the band The Ancestors, led by the British saxophone sensation Shabaka Hutchings. All this musical baggage comes together in Modes of Communication: Letters from the Underworlds, his first album on the iconic Blue Note label, with a highly diverse sound. Makhathini makes the link between ritual music, gospel, spiritual South African jazz and New York post-bop. An irrepressible adventure!