Bakithi Kumalo mixes jazz and world music to create his own sound that is spiritual and joyful.

Kumalo returns to a favorite venue, Godfrey Daniels, to begin its 47th season.

Miriam Clancy and Bakithi Kumalo featuring The South African All-Stars, perform at 8 p.m. Sept. 10 in the south side Bethlehem venue.

Kumalo, who is from South Africa, toured nearly 36 years with Paul Simon.

Kumalo has accompanied in concert and in the recording studio many artists, including Cyndi Lauper, Joan Baez, Gloria Estefan, Randy Brecker and Herbie Hancock.

Kumalo has played on five Grammy-winning albums and is ranked as one of the world’s best bass players. He is known for the bass solo on “You Can Call Me Al” from Simon’s “Graceland” album.

On a Zoom call from the studio in his Bethlehem home, Kumalo spoke about the Godfrey’s concert, which is his sixth appearance there:

“It is always a special show there. I always bring different people for a little excitement.”

He met Clancy, a singer-songwriter and New Zealand native, when they were doing a photo session at Godfrey’s.

“We just connected and started doing music. We told stories, and I told her I played in New Zealand.”

The small size of Godfrey Daniels appeals to Kumalo, who has often performed for audiences of many thousands. “I love it. You are so close to the people. It teaches you about dynamics because you can’t play loud.”

He is known for his relaxed shows there. “I got nervous playing with Paul [Simon], but not my own stuff. I can let my instruments speak.

“Sometimes, I will even call out the wrong song and the band says, ‘We did not rehearse that.’ I don’t worry. I’m not a machine.”

Morris Goldberg on horns and David Bravo on keyboards, who will accompany Kumalo for the Godfrey’s concert, previously played there with him. His band will include a drummer-percussionist.

Kumalo is bringing a variety of instruments to the concert. There might be a piccolo or a stand-up bass, and perhaps an amplified kalimba (thumb piano) and aerophone he played on his most recent album. The aerophone is a digital wind instrument with voicings that emulate other instruments.

His latest album, “What You Hear is What You See,” was released in 2021.

“I had the structure for the album in 2012, but I was busy touring. I would write pieces and leave them alone and put them away.”

As with most musicians, Kumalo had more time at home during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic shutdown.

“In 2019, I started putting this together. I was looking for a producer with an ear for this type of music, not just anybody. I found Maxfield Gast, who is a beautiful sax player.”

Gast is one of 31 musicians on “What You Hear,” which was recorded remotely and assembled over the Internet.

“Everybody who had a studio had a job,” says Kumalo.

Kumalo has six solo albums available in United States. He has released 10 albums, including those he made in South Africa when he was a studio musician there.

“What You See” shows Kumalo mastering his combination of jazz and his South African roots. African chants, vocals and spoken word blend with contemporary melodies and a few improvisational turns.

Kumalo plays keyboards, percussion, guembri (a three-string bass from Morocco), kalimba and aerophone. On one song, he hands over the bass playing to Biodun Kuti.

Kumalo has appeared at SteelStacks’ Musikfest Cafe and Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks with Graceland Experience, his band that performs songs from the Paul Simon album.

This summer, Kumalo returned to teach at the Lehigh University Music Master Mentor Program Summer Camp for 25 area middle and high school students.

“I like to work with kids and share the experience of music with them.

“They are from different schools, but by the end of camp everyone is part of the same family. If someone has trouble playing something, other kids will step up and help.”

The hands-on experience he shares goes beyond playing the music:

“I will show them how an instrument works, how to take it apart and put it back together.

“I might take someone’s bass and fix it, so then they will say, ‘Now I can practice every day.’

“Music is a business that can work for you if you treat it the right way. And you can use music to heal yourself,” says Kumalo.

Tickets: Godfrey Daniels, 7 E. Fourth St., Bethlehem; www.godfreydaniels.org, 610-867-2390

“Valley Beat” is a new column in the Focus section about popular music with an emphasis on live performances. To request coverage, email: Paul Willistein, Focus editor, pwillistein@tnonline.com

Next week’s Focus: Lehigh Valley arts and entertainment previews continue.