The free concert will start at 5pm and finish at 11pm with a line-up featuring local and international artists.
"We have put together a special tribute to the fallen legends who have, for many years, brought joy and music to our lives. Music lovers can look forward to an array of local musicians paying tribute to a number of South Africa's and Cape Town's musical greats who have passed on in the past year or more, including: Winston Mankunku, Tony Schilder, Robbie Jansen, Donald Tshomela, Hotep Galeta, Ezra Ngcukana and Vincent Kolbe," said Dan Plato, Mayor of Cape Town.
This year's free concert is geared up for the pilgrimage of jazz lovers who attend the event each year. Music fans who are not able to attend The Cape Town International Jazz Festival as well as those who have purchased their tickets can look forward to a festival atmosphere on the square. espAfrika together with CCID (Central City Improvement District) will ensure a safe and secure environment with additional city services working overtime on the night.
"We invite people who do not work or live in the central city to make use of this opportunity to experience the buzz of city life," said Andrew Boraine, Cape Town Partnership CEO.
The programme promises to be diverse, exciting and entertaining as the line-up of artists appearing will be Tortured Soul (US), Hanjin (Singapore/Hong Kong), Tribe of Benjamin (US), Gang of Instrumentals and the Cape Town Tribute Band (SA).
Bringing all the right elements of soul and disco heritage into their music, is the three-piece US band, Tortured Soul. Also from the US, indie folk band, Tribe of Benjamin will offer visitors to the square a set of harmonised sounds of the slide guitar, mandolin, and didgeridoo harmonica.
Ready to show South African audiences that Hong Kong has more than Cantopop and HK-pop is Hong Kong-based Singaporean artist Tan Hanjin. As music producer and songwriter Hanjin thrust himself to the fore in November 2009 when he launched his debut album, "Raw Jazz". Hanjin creates compositions that fuse Chinese music with rock, Western pop and R&B.
The free concert will also feature some of South Africa's hottest talent, such as SAMA award-winners Gang of Instrumentals, offering their unique blend of soul, reggae, rock and kwaito.
There will be road closures on the day of the concert. Jazz lovers can use the normal Metrorail train service to come into Cape Town and free additional late-night trains have been scheduled for after the show.
The Cape Town International Jazz Festival takes place on 25 and 26 March, 2011. Details can be obtained from www.capetownjazzfest.com or by calling the festival hotline on +27 (0)21 422 5653. Tickets are available from Computicket and Shoprite Checkers stores.
