Ella

Ella is a tribute to the legendary "First Lady of Song", Ella Fitzgerald. This hour long show by the charismatic and soulful South African Jazz singer Lindiwe Maxolo, celebrates the era of big band, swinging the songs of Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.

With a recording life spanning almost 60 years, Ella Fitzgerald was the world's most loved and popular female jazz icon, winning 13 Grammys and selling more than 40 million albums worldwide. Her music and legacy lives on...

Lindiwe Maxolo Biography

Vocalist Lindiwe Maxolo received an Honours degree in Jazz Music Cum Laude, from the University of Cape Town in 2005. During her time in Cape Town, Lindiwe won the Old Mutual Jazz encounters Competition, winning first prize in the Afro Vocal category; performed at the North Sea Jazz Festival (Cape Town) 2004; and was chosen by the Department of Arts and Culture to represent South Africa at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

After returning to her home town, Johannesburg in 2005, Lindiwe collaborated with well-known pianist Andile Yenana who introduced her to the Johannesburg jazz scene, as well as internationally celebrated artists Themba Mkhize and Sibongile Ngoma. In 2006 she was invited to perform in the USA as part of a cultural exchange, hosted by the New Orleans South African Connection Inc. The performances in New Orleans and Dallas, Texas were dedicated to the victims of Hurricane Katrina and the rebuilding of New Orleans - America's great city of Music, Arts and Culture. Here she performed alongside Lauren Hill and other top artists.

In 2007, Lindiwe was spotted by Urban Brew Producers who recruited her to sing in the widely popular TV game show 'Lilizela Mlilizeli' hosted by Rudeboy Paul Mnifi from YFM radio. Lindiwe was subsequently contracted for 5 months and the popularized show was broadcast on SABC2.

In 2009 she performed for the Ambassador of Portugal in Lisbon as well as for the opening shows of the Habtoor Grand Resort in Dubai, UAE with Organic Lounge. Lindi is currently the voice of Jo'burg's renowned jazz band, Chilli & Lime where she has performed alongside Judith Sephuma, Mango Groove, and continues to perform with the likes of Sibongile Ngoma, Vusi Khumalo and more recently, Hugh Masekela. No stranger to the corporate world of entertainment, Lindi has performed for the South African Government, African ministers of education, and corporate giants including MTN, BMW, Vodacom, SANLAM, ESKOM, Mercedes, to name a few.