Kesivan Naidoo’s long anticipated début solo album Kesivan & The Lights: Instigators of the Revolution, will be launched on 9 April, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

"Kesivan & The Lights is the culmination of my musical journey over the last 15 years," said Naidoo. "This band is a combination of some of my favourite musicians in the world," he added.

Kesivan & The Lights performed together for the first time at the Standard Bank Jazz Festival in Grahamstown in 2009.

The band has two line-ups: a local, and international version. Naidoo brings the latter team to the 2010 Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

Joining Naidoo (on drums) for the launch of the album is the virtuosic alto saxophonist from Stockholm, Johan Hörlén; Australian trombonist Adrian Mears, a leading light in the European avant garde; Reza Khota, steeped in Indian and Classical guitar; adventurous pianist Mark Fransman; one of Europe’s busiest bass players, Sweden’s Martin Sjöstedt; one of Sweden's most inspired tenor saxophone players, Karl-Martin Almqvist. The Lights will be joined on stage by the legendary Feya Faku on trumpet.

Naidoo has made his presence felt strongly in South Africa over the past decade and has begun to carve himself an international reputation. His particular strengths are a transformatory energy on stage, a keen commitment to maintaining the integrity of his artistic expression, and a willingness to explore all musical genres in an effort to give voice to the music inside.

The 30-year old jazz sensation was the 2009 Standard Bank Young Artists Award Winner for Jazz, was born in East London and started playing drums at age 10. He made his professional début at the Hogsback Jazz Festival in 1994 with the Webster jazz quintet, and was a practising member the National Youth Jazz Orchestra in 1995, 1999 and 2000. He also toured New York as part of the National Youth Band of 1999.

He enrolled for Jazz Studies at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 1997, and completed a BMus (Performance and Composition) in 2000 and a BMus. (hons) (Performance and Composition) in 2002, obtained First Class. He was the first South African to perform with the Kennedy Centre Jazz Ambassadors during their South African tour in 1998. He was also the youngest winner of the SAMRO Overseas Scholarship Competition in 2000, and this allowed him to take up scholarship in India under Prof. Sanjoy Banbopadhyay.

He went on to win the UCT Honours counsel scholarship (2002), as well as the prestigious Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz in 2009. He has performed at many International Jazz festivals including: North Sea Jazz Festival Holland (2002); Chillimontana Festival Italy (2003); Cape Town International Jazz Festival (2002, 2003, 2007 and 2008); Swedish Jazz Celebration Stockholm (2007) Leipzig Jazz Festival (2007).

The bands he performs in and composes for range in style from post-bop to traditional Indian to acid jazz and all have one thing in common – they are cutting-edge. He is currently a composing/producing member of Tribe; Golliwog; Closet Snare; Restless Natives; Beat Bag Bohemia; and Babu.

Throughout his career he has performed with many great musicians such as Bheki Mseleku; Miriam Makeba; Zim Ngqawana; Feya Faku; Selelo Selota; Judith Sepumba; Errol Dyers; Hotep Galeta; Steve Newman; Carlo Mombelli; and Bruce Cassedy.

His future aspirations include composing a concerto for jazz drums and orchestra, and becoming the Minister of Arts and Culture of South Africa.

Kesivan & The Lights exclusive album launch coming to the CTICC on 9 April. Limited tickets available, book now at Computicket. Contact Claudia 072 787 7725 for more details. Ticket prices will be R120, and R100 for pensioners/students.