The 5th SAJE Jazz Festival takes place from 28 to 30 April 2017 at the Reeler Theatre. International Jazz Day will be celebrated on Sunday, 30 April and is the culmination of Jazz Appreciation Month (fondly known as JAM) – which draws public attention to jazz and its extraordinary heritage throughout April.
The South African Association for Jazz Education’s (SAJE) showcase is a biennial event focusing on performance, workshops, jazz education, skills and audience development. It offers a unique forum for musicians, academics, educators and teachers, jazz fans, students and learners, to engage with the latest sounds and ideas in jazz. Along with workshops, performances and industry displays, there will be opportunities for discussion, information exchange, and networking.
Concerts, workshops and industry displays
Their potent line-up this year features both jazz musicians and educators – including The Bokani Dyer Trio featuring pianist Bokani Dyer (Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz 2011), bassist Romy Brauteseth and drummer Sphelelo Mazibuko, also bassist Carlo Mombelli and pianist Kyle Shepherd (Standard Bank Young Artist for Jazz 2014), guitarist Mageshen Naidoo and pianist Roland Moses, vocalist Amanda Tiffin and guitarist David Ledbetter, the UCT Jazz Voices, and the UCT Big Band conducted by Mike Rossi. International guests include guitarist Roberto Zechini (Italy), trumpeter Gordon Vernick (USA) and accordionist Guilherme Ribeiro (Brazil).
Smart phones and ipads in music education
The festival is open to all and there’s plenty to see and hear – concerts, workshops and industry displays. Workshops on Saturday 29 April will include: effective use of smart phones and ipads in music education, a vocal workshop by Nicky Schrire, a bass workshop by Carlo Mombelli, a workshop on local jazz by pianist Bokani Dyer, and a workshop on pedals and effects, Brazilian music and brass. Musicraft will offer on-site repairs, advice and a display along with Paul Bothner Music. Financial assistance is available for those wanting to attend the workshops.
There will also be a free lunch-hour concert on Saturday, 29 April featuring three visiting Italian jazz musicians and two South African jazz musicians who spent time studying in Italy in 2015 and 2016. This forms part of an ongoing SAJE cultural exchange project between Arcevia, Italy and Cape Town.
Since 1992, SAJE’s mission has been to assure the growth of jazz in South Africa and the development of jazz and jazz education in urban and rural areas. They also aim to build the jazz arts community by advancing research, to promote skills development and performance, to develop new audiences, and to document, preserve and archive our South African jazz heritage.
What: The 5th SAJE Jazz Festival
When: Fri, 28 April, Sat, 29 April, Sun, 30 April, 2017
Where: Reeler Theatre, Rondebosch Boys’ High School, Canigou Ave, Rondebosch, Cape Town
Tickets: Evening concert tickets www.quicket.co.za or door R100, R60 students/pensioners
Workshops: Saturday, 29 April, R120 for the day or R30 per workshop
Register workshops: sajejazz@gmail.com or pay at door
SAJE info: www.saje.org.za
SAJE Jazz Fest 2017: http://sajejazzfestival2017.weebly.com/
Social media: Follow SAJE for updates, Facebook: @sajejazz, Twitter: @sajejazz, Instagram: @sajejazz
WS
