The crowd impressed me - good- humoured, enthusiastic, well-informed. Standing packed into the huge Kippies venue with hardly room to breathe, let alone move, and to feel the energy and love as Hugh Masekela did his thing with Vusi Mahlasela; to be part of the roar of approval for music that we love is something that will stay with me. Or to feel the excitement of the woman next to me when Patti Austin came onto the stage: "Sing to me Patti. Sing to me sister." The people I chatted to knew exactly which acts they were there for and many had travelled some distances to be there.
And the music itself! Darius, Chris and Dan Brubeck with Mike Rossi got a standing ovation. They are consummate performers and were for me one of the outstanding highlights of the festival. When they wrapped up their set with Take Five we could hardly contain ourselves. The competence and mastery of the young performers of the Alexander Sinton High Jazz Band was great. I felt the rhythm and power of Marcus Miller's bass guitar reverberating through my chest. I was moved by the beauty of a number by Frank Paco, written for his daughter and performed by Virtual Jazz Reality.
In short, to have been one of the very many who were moved, entertained, excited and drawn by the power of jazz was an experience that will live with me.
