Represent is watching: Jason Mraz
Have you heard of this dude? We’re guessing probably not yet, but if you’re lucky enough to be watching Ugly Betty then you may have heard his voice on the song “If Beauty is Ugly”. He’s got a soulful acoustic guitar thing going…bit of a George Michael *Ed screams hysterically* touch… If you’re into John Mayer, Sons of Trout, Maroon 5 or Dave Matthews (homeboy!) you will more than likely dig his acoustic soul and smooth lyrics. So all we’re saying for now is watch this crooner. Remember who told you first 🙂 Enjoy the Jason Mraz live latino style track below – a few bum notes and guitar slips but he seems to rock the party nonetheless! [youtube]-_qBfbJBd_4[/youtube] His Bio tells us: Rocking socks in Flip-flops signifies that it must the chilly season in southern California. “This is a delight,” Jason Mraz, a Virginia Born transplant says of the sudden drop in temperature to a mere 57 degrees. “By golly I bet it could snow,” He jests. “I’m still new to Palm trees as a stand-in for the Spruce.” 7 Holiday seasons, 6 albums and 3 websites later, Atlantic Recording Artist Jason Mraz is planting his troubadour roots firmly into the sands and soils of the San Diego music scene. Currently working on his third studio album at home, Mraz makes time for surfing, landscaping, & meticulous recycling when he’s not writing or playing the role of photo-docu-manitarian. “That’s a word I made up to make taking Polaroids sound more profound. Anything creative, like gardening, cooking, taking snapshots, or even sports… is juggling a sport? Anyway, it’s what I like to refer to as ‘fillin’ up the well.’ If what you’re putting into your body and mind is good stuff, then good stuff is what you’re most likely going to give out.” Mraz, who visited 16 countries in 2006, is putting together his first book of Polaroid Pictures based on his travels. “What I love about instant photography is that it captures the moment. Digital Photography can sometimes take you out of sync with the real moment always unfolding before you. Digital gives you the option of erasing the moment and trying to produce a better one. I’d rather sit and wait until the light is right before I snap an image. If anything, I get to sit with my subject and truly savor the moment.” Mraz’s message is clear. Live in the moment. Be present. “And say thank you for everything.” He adds. “…and Thank YOU for adding that.”...
Pink coming to SA!
At last, one of our favourite pop artists Pink is on her way to perform in South Africa – wish she was playing at Live Earth. Sorry Durbanites it’s only Jozi, Sun City and CT for now. It’s going to be a fabulous Spring. We can’t wait. Yay!!! Pink “I’m not Dead Tour” Proudly presented by Sony Ericsson and 5fm in association with MTN, PINK’s first ever SA tour, kicks off at the Sun City Superbowl on the 8th, before heading to the Coca Cola Dome in Joburg on the 9th, and finally the Bellville Velodrome in Cape Town, on the 11th of September 2007. The multi-Grammy Award winning, multi-platinum selling PINK, recently shattered Australian songbird, Kylie Minogue’s home record as the female artist to sell the most concert tickets in an Australian arena tour. She played 36 sell out concerts in Australia/NZ gigs to more than 310,000 fans, breaking 3 building attendance records, and beating Minogue’s previous record of 20 concerts to 215,000 fans during her 2006 Showgirl Homecoming Tour. PINK and her band are set to put on a powerful, hit-packed show with all her signature brash and in-your-face flare, whipped up with her unique blend of soulful funk punk-pop rock and roll! “To have such a distinguished musical influence associated with Sony Ericsson’s music proposition through our Walkman® mobile phone range will further strengthen our commitment and drive on music for us and our partner, MTN”, said Sonja Shear, Head of Marketing for Sony Ericsson, Southern Africa. Shear continued, “Our decision to sponsor Pink’s ‘I’m Not Dead’ Tour, allows us the opportunity to bring the best in music entertainment to South Africa. We will be releasing our rose red W660i handset in addition to our black and orange W880i, and funky pink Z310i clamshell handset exclusively through MTN.” 5FM Station Manager Helen Graham said “Pink is the archetypal 5FM artist – widely popular but with an edge that has kept her interesting longer than many of her contemporaries in the pop genre. We’re very excited to bring her live show to our listeners, who have kept her recorded work in our charts for many years now”. Alastair Roper Sports and Promotions Executive for Sun International, has this to add, ”It’s an honour to welcome PINK to Sun City as she joins the list of Grammy award winning artists that have performed in the world renowned Sun City Superbowl.” PINK has become one of the most enigmatic pop stars around, after gaining prominence in 2000, with her first record, Can’t Take Me Home, which boasted worldwide sales of over 4 million copies. PINK then collaborated with Christina...
Represent Review: Carnival Symphonic Pops
We’re usually a bit skeptical about any mass produced show that ends in …”pops” but one of our citizen journo’s John was eager to give the Carnival Symphonic Pops a spin … turns out the cast was filled with heavy weights and we missed out. Then again, if PJ’s in it it’s gotta rock 😉 Sharpile to John for the review: The new Carnival Symphonic Pops at Carnival City was a true spectacle featuring the wonderful Johannesburg Philharmonic Orchestra and some of SA’s best singing and musical talents. We were warmly greeted by Clint Cunningham, energetic and fun – doing a medley of Creedence Clearwater Revival. Despite an arm injury, the man delivered a solid performance. The music ranged from Viennese medley’s by Rina Hugo to George Benson and Loyiso Bala getting the crowd clapping. Mauritz Lotz – the brilliant guitar player – stunned the audience by playing Nessun Dorma (Ed: an Aria from a Puccini opera) on his guitar and demonstrated how the electric guitar should be played – truly amazing. The show also featured some young talent – Werner van Coller and Ansuje. One of the true highlights of the show was the performance of Sibongile Mngoma. She had the crowd stunned while singing “When you believe” with Rina Hugo and then doing an operatic piece “La Wally”. Wow, what an amazingly clear voice. Andre Schwartz sang the ever popular “Music of the night” from Phantom of the Opera – at this point half the audience was either crying or shaking their heads in amazement – Andre delivered an amazing performance – I can see why he was selected to perform the roll of Phantom at the State Theatre. PJ Powers did a very energetic and mad performance – those that know her style can tell you that she delivers fun and energy. Coenie de Villiers did a medley of his own songs – good as usual – as can be expected from such a seasoned performer. Overall the show was excellent – good sound quality – brilliant band – and with highlights like Sibongile Mngoma and Andre Schwartz’s rendition of Barcelona making the hair on your back stand up – all makes for a good evening of...
Joy of Jazz line up announced
Linda has been jazzing it up all over Jozi, she went to the Joy of Jazz media conference to find out for you, darling Representers, just what we’ll be tapping our feet to this year. PR at end. I admit, I was star-struck when I saw Miriam Makeba – Mama Africa no less – chilling on the couch – as I walked into the launch of the Standard Bank Joy of Jazz last week. I might have even let out an involuntary “oooh” when my favourite musical couple Letta Mbulu and Caiphus Semenya walked in, followed by the legendary Jonas Gwangwa. Here’s the great news! All of the above will be performing at this year’s Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, which is set to take place from 23 to 25 August in Newtown. This year’s line-up sounds absolutely smashing. It consists of Miriam Makeba, Letta Mbulu, Caiphus Semenya, Jonas Gwangwa, as I’ve mentioned, AND George Duke, The Count Basie Orchestra, Dorothy Masuka, another fine Marsalis brother – the trombonist Delfeayo (big brother Branford Marsalis performed at last year’s Joy of Jazz). Pieces of a Dream and Kunle Ayo will also be here. The Moreira Project will be showing their stuff, as well as newcomer and SAMA winner Siphokazi (she was at the launch and I was struck by how tall and graceful she is). Nokukhanya, Sipho Hotstix Mabuse, Ray Phiri and Stimela, Steve Dyer, and Thandie Klaasen will also be holding it down. In addition, there will be workshops for emerging artists and other events at taverns around Jozi. After the official briefing, the artists were requested to stay behind for a “photo opportunity”. I was tickled pink! Had to restrain myself from jumping in between the divas and asking someone to “please shoot me”. In about two months’ time, the spectacular Joy of Jazz will be upon us again, and I can’t wait! THE OFFICIAL PR: The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz Festival has thrown down the gauntlet to all other South African jazzfests in the country by presenting one of the most diverse and powerful line-ups in years. What makes this year so different from previous festivals and other jazzfests in South Africa is that it will feature the first American big band to play here in about 30 years – the world famous Count Basie Orchestra. The Standard Bank Joy of Jazz, which runs in Newtown from August 23 to 25, also pays its own tribute in Women’s Month by bringing together four of the country’s national cultural treasures on one bill – Mama Africa Miriam Makeba, Dorothy Masuka, Thandie Klaasen and Letta Mbulu whose illustrious musical...
Represent Review: Jamming Sundays
We’re always moaning about the lack of good live jazz in Jozi – moan no more, here’s yet another Represent solution for wafting away the Sunday Blues – good jazz and good people. Catch the best of breed muso’s at Partyhouse at the Dome – a little bird has been tweeting about Siphokazi for ages – sounds like she’s for real. Sharpile! to Linda for the gorgeous pic of Siphokazi and her soulful Sunday story. I attended my first “Jamming Sundays” on Sunday afternoon. This was the third in a series of concerts aimed at jazz and adult contemporary music enthusiasts. Much more than a concert, it’s also an opportunity to network, mingle, and just chill out as you get ready for the week ahead. The concert was held at the Partyhouse at The Dome in Northgate – a really nice venue for a concert – big enough so there’s no crowding and pushing at the bar, but also small enough for the artists to really interact with their audience. And what a vibrant audience it was! SAMA award winner Siphokazi and Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse were the headline acts on this Sunday’s bill. The opening act was Maxhoba (aka Max-Hoba, famous for his collaborations with HHP). I was blown away by his vocal talent and versatility. I have watched him perform, as a backing vocalist to HHP, but never on his own. He performed his own songs exceptionally, and also gave a unique flavour to ‘Tomorrow Nation’ by O’Yaba and ‘One Love’ by the legendary Bob Marley. I was particularly impressed by his rendition of ‘Please Baby Don’t’ – which John Legend sang on Sergio Mendes’ Timeless album – but he brought the house down when he sang the late Jabu Khanyile’s ‘Ungavumi’ as distinctively as Khanyile himself would have. Next up was Siphokazi. This was my first time watching her perform. In fact, I hadn’t heard much of her music other than one or two tracks that get often played on the radio; so I was quite curious to find out what she’s all about. Her voice is incredible – rich and powerful, which was surprising to me, given that she is quite soft-spoken. I remembered reading a few articles in which she was referred to as ‘the next Simphiwe Dana’. With due respect to Ms Dana, I can say categorically that Siphokazi is not the next anyone! She is a phenomenal talent in her own right. I enjoyed her authentic energy, her gracefulness and her voice, which is truly stunning. She scats like a queen from a bygone era – reminiscent of those jazz greats like Dinah Washington and Sarah Vaughn. I...
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