release date: April 5 2024

With a growing international profile, including appearing in 2019 as a featured soloist alongside Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, McCoy Mrubata presents his first album with a United States label. Lullaby for Khayoyo, his 21st album in a leadership role, unites American and South African artists together for one of the most thoughtful, swinging, and profound albums of his already storied career.

This album is a testament to the power of collaboration, born from a transcontinental journey that began in South Africa and traversed across oceans to find resonance in the hearts of musicians from diverse corners of the world. Uniting American and South African musical voices in the ensemble Siyabulela (“we give thanks’), the music represents the culmination of decades of transcontinental collaboration.

McCoy Mrubata - tenor saxophone (all tracks)
Evan Christopher - alto saxophone (tracks 5, 7), clarinet (track 3)
Siya Charles - trombone (tracks 3, 5, 7)
Gary Wittner - guitar (tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
Steven Feifke - piano (tracks 1, 3. 4, 5, 6, 7)
Jennifer Vincent - bass (tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
George Grey - drums (tracks 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)

Produced by McCoy Mrubata and Gary Witter
Recorded and Mixed by Aaron Spencer
Recorded at 360 Sound Studio in Orange, NJ on June 18, 19, and 20, 2023
Mastered by Dave Segal
Executive Producer and AfricArise Curator – Seton Hawkins

Original charts prepared by Jabu Magubane
Studio charts prepared by Gary Wittner