With the focus firmly on development and the education of young jazz aspirants, bands are invited to register for auditions with the Artscape Audience Development and Education Department by contacting the project leader Tarnia van Zitters on 021 410-9803, fax 021 410 9845 or email . The closing date is 23 February 2009.
Prospective bands need to be young up and coming Jazz musicians - non professional, actively performing at clubs or schools in their areas. They must be playing gigs as an entity and remain an entity for the duration and time period of the Artscape Youth Jazz Festival programme.
Standard bands must be not have more than six people, consisting roughly of what represents a jazz combo, ie drums, bass (double or electric), guitar, piano, sax or trumpet or singer. If a band specialises in eg. brass, then the brass component should not exceed six members. This would exclude the rhythm section.
Entrants will be expected to perform any of the Standard Jazz Repertoire eg. Summertime, Autumn Leaves, The Girl from Ipanema, or similar. Showing a strong understanding of the jazz style and the improvisatory nature of the jazz idiom, the bands are to play these standards in either the swing or bossa nova styles.
Although not a prerequisite, demonstration tapes, CDs, video or DVD material will be welcomed.
After the first round of auditions, four of the most promising groups will receive on site master class tutoring by members of the panel whose names will be revealed after all the auditions have taken place.
Bands who have entered the project for two consecutive years/or twice before, will not be eligible for audition.
Once again Melanie Scholtz, the highly acclaimed and respected jazz vocalist is advisor to Artscape on the project.
Marlene le Roux director of Artscape Audience Development and Education highlights Artscape's recognition of the importance of nurturing young talent as this project enables them to become empowered musicians, builds on their already skilled base and provides a platform to demonstrate their art in a professional public environment.
Booking for the Artscape Youth Jazz Music opens on 4 May 2009. Tickets cost R50 and will be available from Computicket www.computicket.com or Artscape Dial-a-Seat 021 421-7695.
