Star-studded line-up for Standard Bank Joy of Jazz
Jazz giants from across the globe – including four-time Grammy Award winner Dianne Reeves; National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis and South African musical legends Sibongile Khumalo and Jonas Gwangwa – are part of the line-up for this year’s star-studded Standard Bank Joy of Jazz. The new-look 2014 Standard Bank Joy of Jazz will take place at the Sandton Convention Centre from September 25 to 27. Other Grammy Award winners at Africa’s premiere jazz festival include British R&B legend Billy Ocean; this year’s Best Jazz Vocal recipient Gregory Porter and trumpeter Roy Hargrove. Other huge draw cards include Tony-nominated composer and multiplatinum-selling singer Ann Hampton Callaway; Filipino recording artist and cultural trailblazer Charmaine Clamor; New Orleans trumpeter Christian Scott; Independent Music Award winner Omar Sosa from Cuba; Italian jazz singer and Grammy nominee Roberta Gambarini; Cameroon’s Richard Bona; Dwele from the US and trumpeter and composer Tomasz Stańko, regarded as Poland’s most important jazz ambassador, who will be performing with some of top young jazz performers from Finland and Denmark. Performers from South Africa include Feya Faku and his quintet; the Mike Rossi Project; Herbie Tsoaeli and Carlos Mombelli, both of whom will be performing with their quartets. A number of Standard Bank Young Artist winners are also on the bill including Gloria Bosman (2000), Tutu Puoane (2004), Kesivan Naidoo (2009), Melanie Scholtz (2010), Shane Cooper (2013) and Kyle Shepherd (2014), Germany’s Wolfgang Diefenbach is the founder and artistic director of the Hessian State Youth Jazz Orchestra also known as Kicks & Sticks who will be providing a big band sound at this year’s festival. Delfeayo Marsalis will be appearing with acclaimed Uptown Jazz Orchestra (UJO) who play everything from traditional New Orleans music, swing and bebop to modern-day brass band funk. Says Marsalis: “I originally formed the Uptown Jazz Orchestra so that New Orleans students could hear what a real swinging big band sounded like. It’s important that in addition to seeing the many great brass bands and other funk-based groups around the city, students know about the more sophisticated styles of American music.” Dianne Reeves is regarded as one of the greatest female jazz vocalists in the world. She is known for her unique jazz and R&B styling and her following has only grown as she’s crossed musical genres. After doing session work and touring with Sergio Mendes and Harry Belafonte, she made her name in the 1980s and has earned four jazz Grammys – an unprecedented three of which were consecutive. Reeves was the Los Angeles Philharmonic’s first jazz creative chair and the first singer to perform at the famed LA Walt Disney Concert Hall....
The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music presents: Duo DH-MM with Dick Hathorn and Mike Mazzoni
The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music is proud to present Duo DH-MM with Dick Hathorn (soprano saxophone) and Mike Mazzoni (percussion) on Tuesday 15 October 2013 at 18:00. Duo DH-MM play original compositions which can be loosely described as idiosyncratic jazz. The duo was formed in 2012. Recently the duo has been providing a live improvised soundtrack to screenings of the silent movie classic, The Cabinet of Dr Caligari. For further information- www.cabbagemusic.com Dick Hathorn and Mike Mazzoni perform as part of our “Twosday” concert. Which feature collaboration between musicians who are fairly well-established in their own particular area/discipline/style of music. Duo DH-MM live at Centre for Jazz and Popular Music (CJPM). 15 October 2013, Level 2, Shepstone Building at UKZN Howard College Campus. Doors open at 17:30 and music starts at 18:00 Entry fee is R35 (Pensioners R20 and students R10). Please contact Thuli on 031 260 3385 or email Zamat1@ukzn.ac.za for more details. On Wednesday 16 October 2013 at 18:00, the Centre for Jazz and Popular Music is proud to present Spha Mdlalose. Spha is a Durban born vocalist. She fell in love with Jazz when she joined a jazz band in high school then later studied at the University of Cape Town’s South African College of Music degree majoring in Jazz Vocal performance. She was taught by Abigail Petersen and Mike Campbell and graduated with an average 81% for her final BMUS recital making the Deans Merit List. Over the years, she was tutored by Darryl Andrews, Amanda Tiffin, Jason Reolon and most recently (2011) Dutch bassist Hein Van Der Geyn who has worked with Chet Baker, Dee Dee Bridgewater and other commended jazz musicians from all around the world. In her years as a student, she has had a budding career, having performed with the Mike Campbell Symphonic Orchestra on numerous occasions. She has performed alongside Bheki Khoza, Sibongile Khumalo, Ladysmith Black Mambazo and other known South African artists. She was also fortunate to tour with Grammy nominated Josh Groban when he visited South Africa on his “Straight to You” tour. Catch Spha Mdlalose joined by Sphelelo Mazibuko on Drums, Shemual Mahabeer on piano and Prince Bulo on bass at The Centre for Jazz and Popular Music (CJPM), Level 2, Shepstone Building at UKZN Howard College Campus on Wednesday the 16th October 2013. Doors open at 17:30 and music starts at 18:00 Entry fee is R35 (Pensioners R20 and students R10). Please contact Thuli on 031 260 3385 or email Zamat1@ukzn.ac.za for more...
LIVE: BURNT FRIEDMAN AND TLALE MAKHENE and SOUND MIND LAB: MPHO MOLIKENG
On tour in sub-Saharan Africa, pioneer German electronic musician Burnt Friedman teams up with South African percussion legend Tlale Makhene for a one-off concert – a feast of rhythmic experimentation that will explode the boundaries between electric and acoustic, traditional and experimental, texture and melody. Other dates of the Burnt Friedman Tour in sub-Saharan Africa: 04/10/2013 Lagos, Nigeria 07/10/2013 Nairobi, Kenya, with Otieno Wakake 10/10/2013 Kampala, Uganda, with Hakimu Kiwanuka Burnt Friedman is one of Germany’s most established and highly rated electronic musicians with a career spanning almost 40 years. Born in Coburg, Germany in 1965, he has lived in Berlin since 2009. After initially being a student of art in Kassel in northern Germany, Burnt started to focus exclusively on music from the late 1980s onwards. He went on to attend the Academy of Media Arts in Cologne as a postgraduate student and began to publish his musical works along with his studio productions in 1979. He also began performing live around the same time, and soon attracted the attention of the Cologne electronic music scene. From there he progressed to various notable music collaborations throughout the 1990s on projects with the likes of Jaki Liebezeit, Hayden Chisholm, Root70, Mark Ernestus, Steve Jansen, David Sylvian and Atom™. In 2000 Friedman launched his own record label, Nonplace, with 35 releases to date. Working under the solo artist name of Burnt Friedman, he sought to address public prejudice at that time regarding the authenticity of programmed music. His studio and on-stage partnership with Jaki Liebezeit, the former drummer of CAN, now dates back 13 years; the two musicians have developed pioneering electronic-acoustic music over that period. On the strength of their craft and universal musical vocabulary they have consciously distanced themselves from the traditional formulas of Western European and Anglo-American music. Burnt Friedman’s work has been critically acclaimed by the international music press. Data Transmission in the UK described his recent album release with Jaki Liebezeit as “destined for cult success“. After carrying out a tour in sub-Saharan Africa in association with the GoetheInstitut, Burnt Friedman will be releasing a new album in November 2013. www.burntfriedman.com Born in Soweto, Tlale Makhene moved to Swaziland at a young age and began drumming at the age of four. Today, he is one of South Africa’s most remarkable drumming talents, often referred to as “The Groove Master” because of his amazing practical and conceptual skills as polyrhythmic percussionist. Highly regarded by musicians and musical fans alike, he has been featured in and produced more than 300 jazz and world music albums and is a much sought after indigenous music teacher, musical director, session...
The inaugural launch of #WawelaMusicAwards 2013
We received the honour of attending the inaugural launch of Wawela Music Awards (Wawela means GO BEYOND – the name itself is derived from the Zulu language). These awards aim to celebrate South African musicians who are breaking borders with their music, composition, creativity and not directly aimed at the popularity of an artist within his/her craft. The awards are open to all SAMRO members and a variety of composers were selected across the multitude of music genres. Upon arrival we were chauffeured to the venue by a shuttle, which drove us to the venue where the nomination announcement was to take place. We had welcome drinks and snacks as we waited for proceedings to get underway and got the opportunity to mingle with media and all the invited guests which included Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, Sibongile Khumalo and a host of other media personalities. Tiyane Maluleke SAMRO General Manager of Marketing did a great job as MC and getting us all up to speed regarding Wawela2013 Prior to the announcement of nominees, we watched the audio visual conception of this award show and were treated to the sounds of Planet Lindela, an up and coming band consisting of 3 members who hail from Soweto. The list of nominees was screened and songstress Lira got 3 nominations in the categories Best Creative Album of the Year, Songwriter of the Year & Best female artist & composer/co-composer. Another big nominee on the day was James Barnard, and other notable nominees included the likes of Nothende, Tumi & the Volume and new comers The Soil. SAMRO Deputy CEO, Sipho Dlamini who highlighted the importance of the awards said: “These awards, the first of their kind in the country, are an important event on the musical calendar,” adding; “On the night of 28 June, we’ll be gathering to give South Africa’s songwriting trailblazers the recognition that is due to them.” A number of Special Awards will also be handed out on the night, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, the Breaking through the Borders Award, and awards for Publisher of the Year and Prolific Catalogue of Works. The #WAWELAMusicAwards ceremony, will take place on the 28th of June 2013 at a venue yet to be disclosed is surely going to be a spectacular affair with major industry players in full attendance. And now the nominees are? Best soundtrack in a feature film or theatric documentary: Daniel Baron nominated for Wrongfully Detained Philip Miller nominated for Leaving Father Sven Larsen nominated for Afro Slow Best song or composition in a television production: Alan Lazar nominated for Scandal Gregory Reveret nominated for Loxion Kulca Roots James Barnard nominated for Limpopo Best song...
MUST DO: Jazz lovers get to CTIJF
Jazzinista’s we hope you’re planning ahead to catch the broadly diverse line up at this year’s CTIJF taking place in less than 3 weeks! Ranging from some of SA’s hottest current bands like Goldfish, 340ml and Siphokazi, then showcasing some of the less commercial but deeply intriguing South African jazz cats like Carlo Mombelli & The Prisoners of Strange and McCoy Mrubata… through to two of our favourite international bands – acid jazz group Incognito from the 90s (still a friend of mine!) and the AMAZING Congo-Belgian all-girl group Zap Mamas (call me!) – And smoothly topped off with an edgy hiphp touch – Mos Def feat The Robert Glasper Experiment (to name but a few), it’s gonna be shaking in Cape Town! Surely this range of talent must put the festival on the global lists of ‘must attend’ jazz festivals. Here is the full line-up. Just added to this list is the young and fabulous Zaki Ibrahim, read all about it below: 340ml; Carlo Mombelli & The Prisoners of Strange; Goldfish; Kyle Shepherd Quartet; Magic Malik Orchestra Napalma; Ndumiso Nyovane; Pete Philly & Perquisite; The Robert Glasper Experiment; Shakatak; Siphokazi; South Paw; Stewart Sekuma; Al Foster Quartet; Arturo Lledo; Dave Liebman Quartet; Dianne Reeves; Emily Bruce; Freshlyground; Hugh Masekela; Incognito; Jonathan Rubain; Kyle Eastwood Band; Loading Zone; Maceo Parker; Maurice Gawronsky feat. Feya Faku; New York Voices; Peter White; Ringo Madlingozi; Rus Nerwich’s collective imagination; The Stylistics; Zap Mama; Jonathan Butler with special guest Dave Koz; Dr. Malombo Philip Tabane, “Opera Meets Jazz” Mike Del Ferro, Sibongile Khumalo, and Shannon Mowday; Abigail Kubeka, Cape Town Jazz Orchestra, McCoy Mrubata and Special Friends and Mos Def feat The Robert Glasper Experiment. To complete this year’s lineup, organisers of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival revealed that Zaki Ibrahim will join the other thirty-nine acts that appear on 03-04 April at Africa’s Grandest Gathering. While she refuses to categorise her music, what Zaki dishes out is a fusion of hip-hop, earthy soul, deep house, broken electro-acoustic beats and jazz-inflected vocal intonations. Still in her 20’s, the Toronto-based South African singer has taken up as her mission, the creation of smooth hip-hop. Born to an exiled South African father and Scottish mother, Zaki spent her early years shuttling between Cape Town and the city of Nanaimo on Vancouver Island in British Columbia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Columbia> , Canada. She was drawn to hip-hop at early age and started to perform when she moved to British Columbia ’s largest city, Vancouver. Explaining the pull of hip-hop on her, the singer who has been living in Toronto since 2001 describes how as a child he listened...
We will be back!
