Last year, CTIJF earned the number one spot in local festival favourites and was acknowledged as being one of the top music festivals in the world by Fest 300. This is due to the festival’s aim to harness the voracious and diverse musical appetite of its fans, fondly known as ‘festinos’. In this carefully considered array of performers, the CTIJF offers an eclectic mix of jazz greats, emerging stars and social commentators.
Contemporary jazz supergroup Jazz Funk Soul with Everette Harp, Jeff Lorber and Paul Jackson Jr (USA), a lineup uniting three of the world’s most admired fusion players: saxophonist Everette Harp, keyboardist Jeff Lorber and world-renown guitarist Paul Jackson Jr.; one of the most successful female groups of all time, the ‘real funky divas’ of En Vogue (USA); multiple SAMA, KORA and Metro music award winner, guitarist Ernie Smith (SA) and the 2017 winners of the espYoungLegends competition VuDu (SA) – founding members Sisanda “Sunda” Myataza (vocals) and Kristo Zondagh (drums) are joined in this fresh incarnation by Wesley Keet (keyboards) and new bass player Grant Allison to produce a fusion of traditional and African jazz with urban contemporary genres.
Jazz purists will enjoy the multiple award-winning jazz master, alto saxophonist, Rudresh Mahanthappa Bird Calls (USA); award-winning jazz vocalist and critically-acclaimed Gretchen Parlato (USA) who also has the distinction of being the first vocalist to be admitted to the Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance; the 2016 Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year for Jazz trombonist, vocalist, composer and bandleader Siya Makuzeni (SA); the multi-award winning Skyjack (SA/ SWISS) quintet comprising of bassist Shane Cooper, pianist Kyle Shepherd, New York-based drummer Kesivan Naidoo, tenor saxophonist Marc Stucki and trombonist Andreas Tschopp; Tune Recreation Committee (SA) helmed by trumpeter Mandla Mlangeni with guitarist Keenan Ahrends, Nicholas Williams on bass and Claude Cozens on drums; the award-winning Cape Town born trumpeter Darren English(SA/ USA) and the two-time Oscar-nominee, veteran composer, trombonist, bandleader and director Jonas Gwangwa & Friends (SA).
Leading the lineup for urban fans is producer, singer-songwriter, keyboardist Taylor McFerrin performing with rhythm man and highly-talented drummer Marcus Gilmore (USA); South African articulate activist who uses her musical rap and hip hop to highlight social commentary, Dope Saint Jude (SA); the inimitable, innovative British singer/songwriter and MOBO and Urban Music Award winner Laura Mvula(UK); award-winning, afro funk, jazz and gospel singer Judith Sephuma(SA); the infectious, assertive sound of The Rudimentals (SA) with their firecracker vocals and infectious mix of reggae, rock and dancehall; and the polished sounds of the Sekunjalo Edujazz Band (SA), under the direction of internationally recognised and award-winning arranger and pianist, Andrew Ford.
Next on the lineup is African reedmen, Grammy-nominated Manu Dibango (Cameroon) and SAMA award-winning Moreira Chonguica (Mozambique); classical vocalist, violinist and composer Deepak Pandit (India) with SAMA-winning trumpeter and composer Marcus Wyatt (SA) and distinguished drummer Ranjit Barot(India); vibrant Latin music sextet Escalandrum (Argentina) led by drummer Daniel ‘Pipi’ Piazzola, grandson of the great Astor Piazzola who revolutionised tango music for new urban audiences; and the Soweto String Quartet (SA) with violinists Sandile Khemese and Thami Khemese and viola player Makhosini Mnguni, featuring Themba Machobane who replaces Reuben “Ompie” Khemese who sadly passed in September 2016.
Commenting on the CTIJF’s 2017 showcase, festival director Billy Domingo reflected, “We are undergoing a musical renaissance, where different musical genres and performers are collaborating to create new sounds for new audiences who may come from different walks of life, but who all appreciate what music has to offer. The Cape Town International Jazz Festival has led the live musical journey on the African continent for the past 17 years, and now in our 18th we are continuing to showcase new talent, new sounds, while staging them alongside music masters. I couldn’t be happier with this line-up as it’s a reflection of where we have come from, where we are now and where we are going.”
Ticket sales for the CTIJF launched earlier this month and are available at www.computicket.com and at the following links:
Weekend Passes | Day Passes
The CTIJF has also opened applications for it CTIJF Arts Journalism and Photo Journalism courses, please also see: www.capetownjazzfest.com
The official sponsors for the 18th annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival are: the Department of Arts and Culture, Independent Media and PRASA. Other sponsors include the City of Cape Town, Johnny Walker, Amstel and South African Tourism.
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