TOP ACTS AT JAZZ FEST

IF YOU are looking for the best local and international jazz artists gathered under one roof, look no further than the 21st Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

The 2020 edition of Africa’s grandest gathering is set to blow audiences away with some of the hottest talent giving it their all on March 27 and 28 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.

“The 2020 festival promises an unforgettable line-up,” said festival director Billy Domingo. “We are passionate about developing local talent and the learners who attend our Sustainable Training and Development programme will have outstanding local examples on stage to inspire them.”

Joining South African jazz legend Jonathan Butler on stage is Dutch saxophonist Candy Dulfer. The Grammy-nominated Butler draws on a vast repertoire, while constantly exploring new genres. Dulfer has performed with musicians such as Dave Stewart, Prince, Van Morrison, Lionel Richie, Chaka Khan, among others.

“Since its inception, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival has been a platform to showcase emerging and established talent from the continent and further afield. Over the last 20 years, we have shown the world that this festival is about more than just live music – it’s about building a community of music lovers and developing the next generation of acclaimed musicians,” Domingo said.

Kenyan-born Aaron Rimbui is a self-taught pianist, keyboard player, drummer, producer and composer. In 2017 Rimbui joined South African jazz icons Herbie Tsoaeli on bass and Ayanda Sikade on drums to create the Kwetu Trio.

Jacob Collier has been dubbed as one of the most innovative musicians of his generation. A self-described autodidact, Collier taught himself to play over a dozen instruments in his music room in London. In 2012 he began making YouTube videos which have achieved legendary status in the music world, attracting the praise of such luminaries as Herbie Hancock, David Crosby, Steve Vai and Quincy Jones, who manages Collier to this day. Collier produced, performed and recorded his debut album In My Room entirely by himself. This went on to win two Grammys. Last year, Collier began creating a quadruple album called DJESSE.

MF Robots (Music For Robots) is a soulful project by the Brand New Heavies founder Jan Kincaid. The drummer, songwriter and producer has teamed up with vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Dawn Joseph.

Grammy award-winner PJ Morton is the busiest man in R&B. Alongside performing with pop powerhouse Maroon 5 and collaborating with the likes of Stevie Wonder, Solange and Erykah Badu. His solo career has taken off as 2017’s Gumbo garnered two Grammy nominations and 2018’s Gumbo Unplugged received three Grammy nominations. Last year saw Morton play NPR’s Tiny Desk and he released his orchestral live album Gumbo Unplugged.

Joining these international acts in celebrating 21 years of the finest jazz is some of the best home-grown talent that South Africa has to offer.

Abdullah Ibrahim, South Africa’s most distinguished pianist and a world-respected master musician, has toured the world extensively for more than a quarter-century. An icon of the South African resistance movement, his song Mannenberg – Is where it’s happening became an unofficial national anthem for black South Africans under apartheid.

Songstress Lira, whose music career spans 15 years and includes six studio albums and three live DVDs, has established herself as one of South Africa’s foremost female artists and a formidable presence on the global music scene.

Port Elizabeth trumpeter and vocalist Mandisi Dyantyis blends traditional gospel with new age Afro-pop to create an award-winning sound for jazz lovers. His album Somandla was nominated for Jazz Album of 2019 at the Samas.

The Ndlovu Youth Choir, who won hearts across the globe when they appeared on America’s Got Talent, have been performing to sold out shows on their first international tour. Their infectious energy and toe-tapping, uniquely South African musical performance, combined with mesmerising choreography, have made this Limpopo choir a household name. From their rendition of Toto’s Africa to more traditional melodies, the Ndlovu Youth Choir infuses the beauty and energy of Africa into every performance. The choir recently won at the Hollywood Music in Media Awards for their video collaboration with Wouter Kellerman on a Zulu version of Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You.

KwaZulu-Natal jazz musician Nduduzo Makhathini was raised in a musical family, where his love for music began at an early age. He completed his Diploma in Jazz Piano in 2005, and a decade later was awarded the 2015 Standard Bank Young Artist Award. His music brings an invigorating sound that merges the notes from his childhood – from traditional Zulu music, to Indian, choral and gospel. He is known for tracks such as Echoes of You, Shwele and King Fela. Makhathini has toured extensively and recorded with jazz icons such as Zim Ngqawana, Busi Mhlongo, Feya Faku, Carlo Mombelli, Salim Washington and Herbie Tsaoeli, among others.

General access tickets for the 2020 festival are available at Computicket at R999 and R649 respectively.