I am a professor and Director of the South African College of Music, University of Cape Town. I have over thirty years of experience in the academic space as an educator and manager. 

I lecture in Theory of Jazz, Jazz Improvisation, Jazz Ear Training, Ensemble and practical instruction in jazz piano at all levels. My research focus is jazz performance and composition and research into South African jazz artists. I have an extensive performing and recording footprint and am the author of published original creative and analytical materials.

The Artistry of Bheki Mseleku is an in-depth study of the Mseleku’s compositional works and improvisational style. The annotated transcriptions and analysis bring into focus the exquisite skill and artistry that ultimately caught the eye of some of the most celebrated international jazz musicians in the world.

“The Artistry of Bheki Mseleku by Andrew Lilley represents a significant and valuable contribution to the study of jazz in South Africa. Lavishly produced, the large format book (at just under A4 size) contains a wealth of resources for exploring Bheki Mseleku’s musicianship and his relationship to several significant North American jazz musicians such as McCoy Tyner, Thelonious Monk, and John Coltrane. The author, himself a highly accomplished and respected jazz pianist and pedagogue, seeks to delineate the contours of Mseleku’s “distinctive South African voice” by systematically analyzing his approaches to composition and improvisation.”

- Marc Duby, Cambridge University Press

Instructional videos

These form part of the online supplementary instruction for jazz improvisation at University of Cape Town Jazz School.

Moment's Notice is a great tune to practice scale segments on and to treat like a regular bebop tune with all the resolutions and devices.

'But Not for Me' is a classic standard with a beautiful melody. Listen to Chet Baker sing it and then Sonny Stitt play the tune. Check out the melody and the simple chords then check out Coltrane’s version of the tune.

Coltrane used his 'Giant Steps' changes on the classic Parker tune 'Confirmation'. He called the tune. 26-2. The song was recorded by Coltrane in 1960, but only released ten years later

Demonstation of the use of substitute harmony over the V7 chords in ‘How High the Moon’

Lessons/masterclasses - in person or online

  • The basics of jazz harmominc practice, scale theory and repertoire

  • Developing fluid improvisation in the bebop language.

    Integration of bop scale theory and melodic devices

    Learning the standard repertoire

  • Advanced concepts in improvisation including substitute harmony, Coltrane changes, triad pairs, pentatonic scales and playing outside the harmony