What a lineup! The Cape Town International Jazz Festival swings back into town and once again punters are spoilt for choice on the weekend of 31 March – 1 April, 2017. The organizers have put together an epic two-night spread.
Check out some of the performers
Saxman Kamasi Washington (USA) and his release The Epic shook up the jazz critics’ pick lists in 2015 and won the 2016 American Music prize, earning new fans across the world in the process; Grammy-nominated songstress Andra Day (USA) whose song Rise Up has been adopted as an anthem for change throughout the world; vocalist, pianist, composer and music educator, and two-time Metro Music Award winner Nomfundo Xaluva (SA); and, the multi-award winning saxophonist, composer and arranger Buddy Wells, who will lead his own band in a sensitive yet blistering set as the Buddy Wells Sextet (SA).
Digable Planets and Jameszoo
Those who favour urban sounds and hip hop will find appeal in these artists who offer everything from the fresh, dreamy inspiration of a British producer in his early 20s to the harder-edged, funky flavours of a trio of respected (and long-missed) Brooklyn veterans: Alternative hip hop trio Digable Planets (USA); dance/electronic music producer Jameszoo (NL); STTA (SA) – a live concept band and City Festival Battle of the Bands 2016 winner, comprising of drummer Jstar, turntablists DJ Raiko and DJ P–Kuttah, three live beat machine samplers, versatile vocalist Nasty J aka Joniq; and singer/composer, multi-instrumentalist and producer Tom Misch (UK), who leaves his London bedroom studio to head to Cape Town for the first time in March.
Those seeking the ancestral roots of jazz and hip hop in African music will be captivated by these artists, offering music from the deserts of Mali, Morocco and the Kalahari – Jokko is a supergroup of African instrumentalists that brings together five top-ranking players of traditional instruments, all fluent in the modern languages of pop, dance and jazz. Renowned balafon (wooden xylophone) player Aly Keita, stringed instrument (guembri and ghayta) player Mehdi Nassouli, Foulane Bouhssine “the Mozart of the ribab”, bassist Childo Thomas and, Senegalese drummer Sega Seck.
South Africans confirmed on the bill include Pops” Mohamed (SA), Mango Groove (SA); Khayelitsha-based Arts & Culture Focus School Chris Hani High School (SA) will bring the talents of young past and present students to the CTIJF stage, including students from the CTIJF’s Training & Development programme, with a mix of jazz and African influences; Camillo Lombard presents a Cape Town Showcase (SA) – Sophia Foster, Terry Fortune, Sylvia Mdunyelwa, Sammy Webber and Vicky Sampson. The Cape Town Showcase also boasts a stellar 14-piece band that comprises a six-piece rhythm section, five horns and three backing vocals.
Then there’s multiple award-winning vocalist and songwriter Thandiswa Mazwai (SA); SAMA-winning, Congolese-born, Cape Town-based vocalist/composer Tresor (SA); and Sonik Citizen (SA).
And then there’s more…
Jazz Funk Soul with Everette Harp, Jeff Lorber & Paul Jackson Jr (USA; En Vogue (USA); Ernie Smith (SA) and VuDu (SA). Then there’s multiple award-winning jazz master, alto saxophonist, Rudresh Mahanthappa Bird Calls (USA); jazz vocalist Gretchen Parlato (USA); Siya Makuzeni (SA); Skyjack (SA/ SWISS); Tune Recreation Committee (SA); Darren English (SA/ USA) and trombonist Jonas Gwangwa & Friends (SA).
Keyboardist Taylor McFerrin performis with drummer Marcus Gilmore (USA); Dope Saint Jude (SA); Laura Mvula (UK); Judith Sephuma (SA); The Rudimentals (SA); Sekunjalo Edujazz Band (SA), under the direction by Andrew Ford.
African reedmen Manu Dibango (Cameroon) and Moreira Chonguica (Mozambique) team up; violinist Deepak Pandit (India) appears with Marcus Wyatt (SA) and drummer Ranjit Barot (India); vibrant Latin music sextet Escalandrum (Argentina) led by drummer Daniel ‘Pipi’ Piazzola, grandson of the great Astor Piazzola who revolutionised tango music for new urban audiences; Soweto String Quartet (SA) features Themba Machobane who replaces Reuben “Ompie” Khemese. What a lineup!
What: Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2017
When: 31 March – 1 April, 2017
Where: Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC)
Tickets: www.computicket.com
Weekend Passes: http://bit.ly/2eHG6bJ Day Passes: http://bit.ly/2fuzXOO
Info: http://www.capetownjazzfest.com/
Official hashtag: #CTIJF2017
Facebook: facebook.com/CTJazzFest
Twitter: twitter.com/CTJazzFest
Instagram: Instagram.com/capetownjazzfest
WS
