Represent Review: Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2010
Between bracing the Cape winds, running between stages and having dinner with Bilal (coughcough), our two fabulous Jozi representer’s Lebogang and Akona (you’re always a Jozi girl for us) still managed to cover the Cape Town International Jazz Festival for us this year… and with such panache… What can we say besides a massive Sharpile. Watch your snailmail for your thank yous đ See Lebogang’s gorgeous photostory of the event here and read Akona’s review below: Represent! This yearâs 11th annual Cape Town Jazz Festival, which took place last weekend, once again got itâs stamp of approval for being one of the grandest music festivals in the country, I also think this event, previously known as North Sea Jazz Festival, is one of the better organised festivals out there save for the crazy Cape Town wind trying to get itâs time in the spotlight. The line â up was incredible, the most exciting part for me are the number of fusion artists I had never heard of – you see, the Jazz Fest for me is the place I go to be introduced to new music without being caught out as an ignoramus by die-hard fans. T his is where the artists have to bear their souls through their craft, this is where they introduce themselves to the possibility of new fans â me being one of them of course. 42 acts, over two nights, on 5 stages = a whole lot of dancing, singing, crying, with a healthy dose of soul touching music to keep you entertained.  On the first night, with a late start to the evening, I was blown away not only by the Cape Town wind at the âBasslineâ stage (which was setup outside of the International Convention Centre) but also by the Japanese fusion jazz group â a six man group playing what Iâd call dance music, with a very jazzy root. It was impossible not to be mesmerized not only by their energy, but the way in which they got the audience involved, singing hooks, dancing, clapping along and creating a measurable heat out in the open stage (audience by now had to do just about everything not to succumb to the thrashing of the wind). What was most important is how the band didnât seem bothered nor allowed themselves to be distracted by the wind and sand smacking them about on stage, they never skipped a beat â at one point I saw the saxophonist cough out some dirt only after blowing his instrument to the tunes. The Soil and Pimp Sessions is a vibrant band who transcend any expectations, MC, trumpet,...
Bilal joins the Line-Up at Cape Town International Jazz Festival
Oh, to hear the opening strains to Soul Sister, to close our eyes and be swept away by the swelling vocal crescendos of Sometimes… damn, Bilal playing at this years Cape Town International Jazz Festival is the best news since we heard about our poor Guru (who by the way is thankfully out of his coma). It was so dope to see Bilal a few years ago at the North Sea Jazz Festival in Rotterdam, where he mesmerized the crowd and had ladies nearly nekked with lurve for his sexy ways… We’re sure Bilal will deliver hands down once again and we urge you of course to GO GO GO. We will try to see just how up close and personal we can get. Bilal, one of the worldâs most well-respected and highly sought after live acts performing exquisite, pitch-perfect, old-soul hip-hop tinged vocal gymnastics like no other completes the line-up for the 11th Cape Town Jazz Festival. From the humble streets of Philadelphia to The Big Apple, Brooklyn has been the aural disseminatorâs base from where three albums worth of brilliance have, thus far, been realised. As his keen insistence saw him plough through and challenge his chosen genre Bilal quickly caught the attention and made fans of soul jazz legends Giles Peterson, the Roots, Dr. Dre, Jay Z and Raphael Saddiq. It was Erykah Badu who, upon hearing his early Brooklyn demoâs, hired the prodigy to not only perform, but also produce her 2000 album Mamaâs Gun. Dedicated to old-school, the former jazz musician navigates comfortably around all things percussion, organ and guitar-based. In 2001, at the age of only 21, Bilalâs aptly titled 17-track autobiographical debut 1st Born Second shook the larger neo-soul tree to way beyond its knotted root core where it celebrated comparisons to the true greats. The most memorable confirmation came when critics set it up alongside DâĂngeloâs 2000 Voodoo album, labelling it the âsmoother stepchildâ. From there the rollercoaster was well and truly set in its tracks and was hurtling, at blinding speed, up the charts and into live arenaâs right around the world. âHis voice â including a terrific falsetto, can still a room. He has the ability to head in unexpected directions, at the edge of off-key, only to bring back the song with emotional satisfaction that comes when risks pay offâ â The Boston Globe In 2003 he delivered his startling second collection of songs titled Love For Sale. The album was never officially released, but rather bootlegged by hungry fans and one which Vibe magazine tagged âpsycho soulâ. From âHow Do You Do Youâ and âAll The Humans...
Celebrate the end of January with Party People
Everyone else that’s happy to see the backend of January stand up! What a mindblow start to this year… It can only get better…Go and usher in the beautiful month of February at Party People and our famous BLK JKS boys fresh from NY. This month Kenzhero brings to you the out of this world Rock fantastical astronomical historical shifting ever-growing band BLK JKS, for a first time live performance. Here is a little history about the fellas and what they have installed for you: Itâs been too long since anyone was able to bring this much soul and heartblood to progressive rock, a medium that has been left cold and dry by a misguided focus on technical show-offery. But by entangling the music they love â township blues, fringe jazz and renegade dub â into the DNA of prog, BLK JKS have provocatively pulled afro-futurism into a new century. After Robots has all the ingredients of a party record â young, joyous musicians; surging, afro-drumming; aggressive horn blasts (supplied by the cultishly famous HYPNOTIC BRASS ENSEMBLE) â but this is not party music. Itâs at times disorienting and overwhelming, but it always maintaining a cool, alluring mystique. Itâs in Mcataâs patient, complex and enviable jazz chord vamping. Itâs in Makananiseâs from-the-pocket-to-the-stars bass approaches. Itâs in Butheleziâs blues-inflected phrasing and searing guitar leads. Itâs in Ramobaâs super-polyrhythmic, flailing beats. Come and see this great South African Phenomenon perform live for the first time at Party People on Saturday the 30th January 2010. The Doors of OST, Corner Henry Nxumalo and Bree Str, Nextown 9pm R100 www.myspace.com/partypeople or...
Represent Recommends: Deconstructing Youth Day
We always lurve their flyers – sadly we haven’t caught a party yet but believe they’re off the hook. Here’s your chance to Represent at an early Youth Day event “APARTlove” being held at the Apartheid museum on Friday 15th June. They’re making a movie of the night as stereotypes are broken and trends set by today’s hippest Jozi youth. If you’re into indie or alternate culture, this is definitely one for you or if you’d just like to Represent for Youth Day with good people – check out the Deconstruct event. Feast your eyes on the gorgeous flyer. APARTlove The next, and most ambitious Deconstruction Event to date, will be held on the 15th June in celebration of Youth Day, in the Apartheid Museum, and will be themed APARTlove fittingly. Already we have had 3 flyers designed, all by different designers and artists, which all display a different interpretation of the theme as well as its social significance. The Line-up that has been secured for this significant event includes The BLK JKS (South Africaâs only Black rock band, and includes the official launch of their EP), Idol Hands (a White Hip-Hop Turntabilist crew), and Desmond and The Tutus, all performing live, with a slam poetry session by the Bushwomen, as well as reknowned DJâs Destrukto, The Brothers Grimm, Sassquatch, and Klassikist performing at the event, and in a Johannesburg first, we have a two hour set with Data Takashi and Soviet Space Dog going head-to-head live on UJFM leading up to the event, so that people can get into the event while driving there. In addition to the event, we will be filming a documentary of the evening, focussing on the interactions between the people attending and the environment, being the Apartheid Museum, and the art that will be exhibited at the event by collectives including Familia (with their film Bang Chong), *And Then*, Social Construction and a host of other exhibitors, including MissYucki, Ke Ai, and Club Soda. This film is ultimately being produced for international distribution and screening at international...
TICKETS! Rock is back and it’s Black!
*To win a pair of tickets for Friday please email the editor with subject BLK JKS, include your name, age and cell number asap!* Well that’s what the Weekly Mail said about the dark and deep rockers BLK JKS – see if it’s true this Friday at the Bohemian in Richmond, near Melville (leave all comfort requirements at home). Last time we saw the dudes in action we were way impressed – I remember thinking “a South African RadioHead” (if that is remotely possible.) We’ve also heard a lot about Desmond and the Tutu’s although the name makes us cringe and certainly a bit skeptical of them. Wonder what uBabe Tutu thinks? We just have too much respect to use his name in vain but maybe we’re being old and boring? Surely there could be better name options – besides the association, it just sounds so corny…and you know Editorista can’t take corn. We’ll have to check them out and let you know but they’re going to have to persuade us. The BLK JKS â Natalia (Cpt) – Desmond & Tutus @ Bohemians – Friday 8th June The winning combination of The BLK JKS with Desmond & the Tutus is rekindled to heat up the winter night on Friday the 8th June at Bohemians, alongside Natalia the special guest folk /pop singer songwriter from Cape Town. Dates: Friday 8th June Venue: Bohemians Address: 5 Park Rd. Richmond (Just off Empire Rd. Melville) Entrance: R30 Info: 076-590-0564 or MovementMedia@gmail.com Websites: http://www.thebo.co.za/; – www.myspace.com/BLKJKS – www.rock.co.za/natalia Line Up: BLK JKS â Desmond & the Tutus â Natalia (Cpt) The BLK JKS âRock is back, and itâs black!â âWeekly Mail. Firstly itâs pronounced âThe Black Jacksâ, and they certainly are the talk of the town at the moment, with fans of this unique African Rock outfit eagerly awaiting the release of their long overdue EP, which is finally being launched on June the 15th at the Apartheid Museum. Natalia The young singer song writer from the Mother City is currently on her second tour of Joburg, having performed the Cape Town circuit since the tender age of 15, sheâs already had the honour of sharing the stage with the legendary Rodriguez on his latest SA...
We will be back!
