Artistes from 12 countries make 2013 Cape Town Jazz Festival

WITH 12 countries providing the line-up for this year’s edition of Cape Town International Jazz Festival, the concert is set for a breathtaking experience, if what the organisers say is anything to go by.

Known as Africa’s Grandest Gathering, the festival which will be in its fourteenth year when it takes place on Friday 5 April and Saturday 6 April 2013 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre will thrill loyal and new fans with world class music

Rashid Lombard, festival director and CEO of espAfrika, organisers of the show announces that three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, New York Times best-selling poet and critically acclaimed actress, Jill Scott (USA), will join the bill for this year’s annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) as one of the headline acts.

Scott, who had to withdraw from the festival last year due to filming commitments, joins nearly 40 other world-class acts from 12 countries for a line-up of diverse live-music from traditional jazz to funk, pop, soul and more.

According to Lombard, “Jazz and popular music luminaries from every continent will be represented at this year’s event in keeping with the CTIJF’s ever-growing standing as one of the world’s major music gatherings, and Africa’s premier lifestyle event.” He disclosed that for this year, half of the line-up acts are Africa.

He said the festival promises to be an impressive convergence of the best in jazz and other genres. The pack includes top quality selection of US greats, including Grammy Award-winning jazz guitarist Norman Brown, Grammy Award-winning jazz saxophonist Kirk Whalum and renowned jazz trumpeter Rick Braun, who together will perform as BWB, an act that has been described as astounding.

In addition, Kirk Whalum Romance Language, Whalum’s modern day recreation of a collection of duets recorded in 1963 by iconic jazz saxophonist John Coltrane and vocalist Johnny Hartman, is also on the bill, as well as undisputed master of jazz and rock violin Jean-Luc Ponty (France), a graduate of the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique de Paris who has performed across the globe to great acclaim, and Steve Turre, one of the world’s preeminent jazz innovators, trombonist and seashellist who has worked with Ray Charles, Stephen Scott, Woody Shaw and Blakey.

Adding some hip hop flavour to this year’s line-up is Brother Ali (USA) whose 2007 release, The Undisputed Truth, was a springboard for his headlining tours in the US, Canada and Australia.

Also from the host country, South Africa, are five incredible women Sonti, Thandiswa Mazwai, Auriol Hays, Claire Phillips and Pu2ma who have all been confirmed for the festival.

Sonti has fast become a top name in South Africa. While living in exile, she met Hugh Masekela and Miriam Makeba and is blessed with the rare experience of working with two of SA’s great legends. Her incredible voice has seen her take the limelight with international music icons like Peter Gabriel, Tina Turner, Stevie Wonder, Lionel Ritchie, Elton John, Sade, Paul Simon and Donna Summer.

Thandiswa Mazwai was recently described by the Guardian as South Africa’s finest female contemporary singer. Combining traditional Xhosa rhythms, mbaqanga, reggae, kwaito, funk and jazz, Thandiswa believes that through music she can have meaningful conversations about African identity.

Auriol Hays’ debut album Behind Closed Doors earned her a 2009 SAMA nomination and was selected by the Sunday Times as one of the Top 20 albums. SAMA winner, singer, songwriter and musician Claire Phillips has an instantly recognisable voice and her album Say My Name hit the top of the local music charts.

Phillips has performed alongside Sasha-Lee David’s, Brandon October, Jimmy Dludlu and Joe Mc Bride, to name but a few. Few words can describe the vocal prowess of Pu2ma who shared the stage with Hugh Masekela at the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz in 2011 and has performed internationally at the infamous jazz club in Shanghai, China (the JZ Club).

Other South African jazz greats taking centre stage at the CTIJF include Louis Moholo who presents 4 Blokes and 1 Girl, Ibrahim Khalil Shihab, Afrika Mkhize, Jonathan Rubain and Don Vino, and Ben Sharpa and Pure Solid.

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