The bumper Cape Town International Jazz Festival is looming, with yet another brilliant line-up to pick and choose from. The annual fest boasts multiple stages with over 40 artists performing over two nights from 31 March – 1 April.
The organisers have put together a broad line-up they hope will captivate jazz purists, world music fans, fusion lovers and the soul nostalgics out there. This CTIJF mix delivers what fans expect – an eclectic mix of jazz greats, emerging stars and social commentators.
Who you can expect are contemporary jazz supergroup Jazz Funk Soul with Everette Harp, Jeff Lorber & Paul Jackson Jr (USA), a line-up uniting three of the world’s most admired fusion players: saxophonist Everette Harp, keyboardist Jeff Lorber and world-renown guitarist Paul Jackson Jr.; one of the most successful female groups of all time, the ‘real funky divas’ of En Vogue (USA); multiple SAMA, KORA and Metro music award winner, guitarist Ernie Smith (SA) and the 2017 winners of the espYoungLegends competition VuDu (SA) – founding members Sisanda “Sunda” Myataza (vocals) and Kristo Zondagh (drums) are joined in this fresh incarnation by Wesley Keet (keys) and new bassist Grant Allison to produce a fusion of traditional and African jazz with urban contemporary genres.
Jazz purists will enjoy the multiple award-winning jazz master, alto saxophonist, Rudresh Mahanthappa Bird Calls (USA); award-winning jazz vocalist and critically-acclaimed Gretchen Parlato (USA) who also has the distinction of being the first vocalist to be admitted to the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance; the 2016 Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year for Jazz trombonist, vocalist, composer and bandleader Siya Makuzeni (SA).
The supremely talented Skyjack (SA/ SWISS) quintet comprising of bassist Shane Cooper, pianist Kyle Shepherd, New York-based drummer Kesivan Naidoo, tenor saxophonist Marc Stucki and trombonist Andreas Tschopp; Tune Recreation Committee (SA) helmed by trumpeter Mandla Mlangeni with guitarist Keenan Ahrends, Nicholas Williams on bass and Claude Cozens on drums; the award-winning Cape Town born trumpeter Darren English (SA/ USA) and the two-time Oscar-nominee, veteran composer, trombonist, bandleader and director Jonas Gwangwa & Friends (SA).
Leading the line-up for urban fans is producer, singer-songwriter, keyboardist Taylor McFerrin performing with rhythm man and highly-talented drummer Marcus Gilmore (USA); South Africa’s very own articulate activist who uses her musical rap and hip hop to highlight social commentary, Dope Saint Jude (SA); the inimitable, innovative British singer/songwriter and MOBO and Urban Music Award winner Laura Mvula (UK); award-winning, Afro funk, jazz and gospel singer Judith Sephuma (SA); The Rudimentals (SA) with their infectious mix of reggae and dancehall; and the polished sounds of the Sekunjalo Edujazz Band (SA), under the direction of Andrew Ford.
For energetic fusion, African reedmen, Grammy-nominated Manu Dibango (Cameroon) and SAMA award-winning Moreira Chonguica (Mozambique); classical vocalist, violinist and composer Deepak Pandit (India) with SAMA-winning trumpeter and composer Marcus Wyatt (SA) and distinguished 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; and the much-loved Soweto String Quartet (SA) with violinists Sandile Khemese and Thami Khemese and viola player Makhosini Mnguni, featuring Themba Machobane who replaces Reuben “Ompie” Khemese.
When: 31 March – 1 April
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
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