The occasion was the announcement of the 2012 Cape Town Jazz International Festival lineup to take place from March 30 to 31 at the usual venue Cape Town International Convention Center.
According to organizers this year’s headliners reflect the festival’s philosophy of broadening audience’s perspectives of what is understood as ‘jazz’.
Jamaican reggae group Third World, which makes their South African debut thanks to the late Lucky Dube who used to share or perform duets with are looking forward to the tour.
Brooklyn based multi-instrumentalist and producer, Marcus Miller, Harlem born songwriter and vocalist Patti Austin and her trio, Kansas City-born vocalist Kevin Mahogany, Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez, Chinese minimalist solo pianist Xia Jia and French bossa nova meets nu-wave act Nouvelle Vague, Allen Stone, a storytelling guitarist and singer from Washington, Angolan afro-funk singer and composer Gabriel Tchiema completes the line-up of international acts.
Also the likes of James Ingram (USA), Dave Koz with special guest Patti Austin (USA), Mike Stern with special guest Dave Weckl (USA), Virtual Jazz Reality (SA), Brubecks play Brubeck (USA/SA), Ron Carter, Donald Harrison and Lenny White (USA), Andre Petersen Quintet (SA), Atmosphere (USA), Jean Grae (USA), Goodluck (SA), Zamajobe (SA), Zahara (SA), The Jason Reolon Trio (SA), David Sanchez with special guest Lionel Loueke (Puerto Rico/Benin), The Moreira Project (Mozambique) and Alexander Sinton High School Jazz Band (SA) complete the star-studded line –up.
Mama Dorothy Masuka, hip-hop, HHP aka Hip Hop Pantsula and Cape Town’s own swag-boasting Ill Skillz aka Ill Literate Skill, Pietermaritzburg born saxophonist Steve Dyer, bassist Herbie Tsoaeli, who will be presenting his long-awaited debut album African Time, Harmonica player Adam Glasser.
Old school glitz and glamour diva Sophia Foster, one of S.A’s sisters of song also joins the line-up. Another kind of diva, ex-fashion stylist Lindiwe Suttle, Zakes Bantwini, and songwriter Unathi, who quipped that she was looking forward sharing the stage with world’s top stars, are some of confirmed artists.
However, according to Rashid Lombard, CEO at EspAfrika, talks are on going to add another two or three international artists in the form of Gill Scott.
Patricia De Lille, Executive Mayor of Cape Town, who was preset at the media brief, said she was looking forward to her first trip to the jazz event, having missed it over the years due to work commitments.
“As the City we’re honoured once again to showcase what CT has to offer to both our visitors from local and international. This affirms our commitment that entertainment and economic spin-offs play a huge part in the development of arts, culture and profiling of our City,” she says.
Paul Mashatile, Minister of Arts and Culture says: “The Cape Town International Jazz Festival does not only expose audiences to a wide array of the best international and local music, the event also contributes to providing a larger skills base in the creative sector which helps in sustaining the creative industries in South Africa.”
Tickets for the festival are R400 for a single day pass and R550 for a two-day weekend pass. As in previous years, there is an additional fee of R30 per act for performances at the Rosies stage.
Tickets are available at Computicket and Shoprite-Checkers stores.
For more information visit www.capetownjazzfest.com
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