"Shortly after being acccepted to New Haven's Educational Center for the Arts (ECA), Zwelakhe-Duma began studying double bass under the direction of Jeff Fuller. Zwelakhe-Duma prepared as a student at ECA and Litchfield Jazz Camp was accepted to New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, MA. Completing his Bachelor (’11) & Master of Music (’13) in Jazz Studies, he studied acoustic bass with Cecil McBee & Don Palma, as well as studying with non - bassists Jason Moran, John McNeil, & Jerry Bergonzi.

Zwelakhe-Duma has performed and recorded with acts such as Christian Scott, Dave Holland, Randy Weston, Dave Liebman & Jason Moran, as well as performed at the Monterey Jazz Festival, Charlie Parker Jazz Festival, Panama Jazz Festival, Lagos Jazz Festival & Osaka Jazz Festival. Zwelakhe-Duma was a recipient of the 2011 Betty Carter’s Jazz Ahead Fellowship and is also a teaching artist for the Litchfield Jazz Camp & New England Conservatory Jazz Lab. He currently resides in New York City, New York & continues his private study with legendary bassist Ron Carter." less...