Retsi Pule On The Jazz Standard With Brenda Sisane

Spending time with Retsi Pule, one of the great pillars of South African jazz vocal artistry, today is an honour. Pule's voice has been instantly recognisable for over 60 years; it is warm, lyrical, intensely expressive, and deeply ingrained in the South African jazz tradition. Pule's sound is a mosaic of influence, memory, and surroundings. He frequently talks about being inspired by the voices of nature, such as the hum of the wind and the rhythms of birds, and you can hear that natural flow in his words. When you combine that with Dorothy Masuka's vivacious storytelling and Nat "King" Cole's grace, you have a vocalist who is entirely original while emulating the greats.ars, Retsi Pule has lived through and shaped multiple eras of South African jazz. He’s seen the shift from classic township swing to post-’60s experimentation, and into today’s modern renaissance. His stories trace our music’s evolution - not from the sidelines, but from its very centre. To deepen today’s conversation, we’ll be pairing this interview with music from Retsi’s contemporaries - artists who shaped, challenged, and walked alongside him. You’ll hear selections from giants such as Tete Mbambisa, whose piano language carried the same emotional clarity and truthfulness that defines Pule’s vocal work. By weaving Retsi’s reflections with the sounds of his peers, we’re creating a musical portrait of an era - a moment where South African jazz found its distinctive voice and sent it out into the world and into the now. So stay with us as we step into the life and legacy of Retsi Pule - one of the significant voices of our music - and celebrate the circle of artists who helped define a generation.