All roads point to Prince Albert from 1 – 5 May 2024, for the second annual Journey to Jazz Festival (J2J). Six venues, multiple local and international artists, a rousing tribute to the piano, masterclasses, workshops, fabulous food and conversation and other lifestyle events are all on the programme.
Early Bird tickets are available at Quicket.
Journey to Jazz is set within the beautiful surroundings of Prince Albert, 4.5 hours from Cape Town, and the UNESCO World Heritage Swartberg Pass, and this year is also set to stage a very special concert as part of the festival.
Also, for the first time, Prince Albert’s legendary Showroom Theatre will host several of the festival’s recitals and performances. Under the curation of the festival’s 2024 Artistic Director, Kyle Shepherd, and its Creative Director Brenda Sisane, audiences are in for a real musical treat, with Shepherd saying that their programming strategy has also “paid homage to a specific narrative of the Western Cape music inheritance, which is in keeping with the contemporary jazz follower of today”. Shepherd also reflected how the overall line-up is an exciting confluence of modern and classic jazz presented by talented local and international artists.
Journey to Jazz artists who will perform at this year’s festival include:
- Afrika Mkhize Quartet (SA)
- Adam Zanoli’s Heliacal Rising of Sothis (USA)
- Cameron Ward (SA)
- Darren English Quartet (SA and USA)
- Giovanni Guidi Trio (Italy/USA)
- Artist in Residence, Artistic Director 2024 Kyle Shepherd (SA)
- UCT Little Big Band (SA)
- The Karoo Jazz Project – Directed by Ramon Alexander (SA)
- Jonathan Rubain en die Koortjies Band (SA)
Read Weekend Special’s interview with vocalist Guilette Price here.
Venues where the festival will take place span the entire town, with most being in walking distance of one another. In addition to the Showroom Theatre and the Swartberg Pass, festival goers can experience performances at the NG Kerk, outdoors at the African Relish restaurant, the intimate Old Barn, as well as its Botterblom Street for a New Orleans festive vibe. The official opening of the festival will be staged at the Krittikom Quarry Theatre, a former disused quarry of prehistoric stone that was revamped by PACT for the inaugural event.
Journey to Jazz is produced by PACT, which created the festival to provide the youth of the town and surrounding areas, with the means to practically deliver the skills they have developed through PACT’s various training programmes.
J2J is aimed at giving these young people income opportunities in an area that is very much isolated. In 2023, 86 youth were trained over a period of 10-months in all aspects of event management, In 2024, 80 youth will be involved in co-producing the Journey to Jazz Festival.
What: Journey to Jazz 2024
Where and when: Prince Albert from 1 to 5 May 2024
Tickets: Quicket
WS
