Nduduzo Makhathini is a pianist, composer, teacher and music philosopher. He started singing gospel music in the Zion Evangelical Ministries of Africa in his teenage years in Umgungundlovu, Kwazulu Natal, South Africa.

After matriculating from high school, Nduduzo studied Jazz Piano at the University of Kwazulu Natal where he attained a Diploma in 2005.
Nduduzo continued his journey in music education working as a lecturer in Wits University, University Of Kwazulu Natal and as a Head of music department at University of Fort Hare.

He came from a musical family with his father being a guitarist and his mother a keyboardist and singer who also was his first piano teacher.

Nduduzo has claimed John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme as an album that made him first fall in love with jazz. He first encountered the album at the University of Kwazulu Natal music library as a student. Although Nduduzo’s sound and musical effect is unique, he is influenced by Jazz greats like McCoy Tyner, John Coltrane, Bheki Mseleku etc.

Nduduzo himself explained Bheki Mseleku’s influence on his music during the recording of his third studio album, Listening To The Ground:

…if people believe I have a voice; I think they are just hearing the echoes of bab' Mseleku.

He was awarded the Standard Bank Young Artist award for Jazz in 2015. Makhathini is the first South African artist to release music under the legendary Blue Note Records.