THE Cape Town International Jazz Festival, which runs tommorrow and on Saturday, is a giant of an event deserving, some say, of the type of respect usually reserved for the Mother City’s better-known tourist magnets such as Table Mountain or Robben Island.
In fact, it was the first event Cape Town Tourism’s chief executive Enver Duminy named when he told African News Agency recently that events should have an official place on the list of Cape Town’s big tourist attractions. He suggested it should be added to the city’s "Big 7" – the Table Mountain Cableway, the V&A Waterfront, Kirstenbosch, Robben Island Museum, Groot Constantia, Cape Point and the City Walk.
Duminy noted that the jazz festival and its 37 000 attendees contributed in excess of R700 million to the economy each year. He added that he thought the festival could be likened to the famous annual jazz festival in New Orleans, the global centre of the genre.
With a line-up of more than 40 artists split 50/50 between international and local performers, the festival is certainly known and loved well beyond these shores.
As usual this year’s line-up is an eclectic and impressive mixture of big names and newcomers.
Few people will not have heard of South African Afro funk, jazz and gospel singer Judith Sephuma, or the Soweto String Quartet. These big names are joined this year by the American contemporary jazz supergroup Jazz Funk Soul, featuring Everette Harp, Jeff Lorber and Paul Jackson jr.
Another band that needs little introduction is the all-female R&B group En Vogue, who have sold more than 20 million records since their 1990 debut album Born to Sing. The “real funky divas” are certain to impress with their innovative blend of soul and hip hop.
Many others performers have cult status. The festival’s organisers said they received 117 000 tweets within a couple of hours of confirming the appearance of the group
Music lovers can expect some raw talent when current and past pupils between the ages of 17 and 20 play a selection of jazz and African numbers during a set by the Chris Hani High School band. The Sekunjalo Edujazz Band will perform, as will Vudu, a nu-jazz collective from Port Elizabeth that won last year's esp Young Legends talent search.
Interesting collaborations are often a feature of the festival.
This year will see 83-year-old Cameroonian legend Manu Dibango meet up on stage with Sama-winning Mozambican reedman Moreira Chonguiça.
Dibango's biggest hit is Soul Makossa.
Another act, Skyjack, is an award-winning collaborative band of five jazz musicians from South Africa and Switzerland who work together whenever cross-continental trips are possible.
Another nice, different surprise on the programme is Escalandrum, an Argentinian sextet led by drummer Daniel "Pipi" Piazzola, the grandson of the one and only Astor Piazzola, who pioneered a revolution in tango music for new urban audiences starting in the 1940s.
Tsepo Tshola, the super-popular, award-winning jazz musician who appeared with Mafikizolo at last year’s event, is back “by popular demand” to host his own set.
Locals and visitors who didn’t manage to bag a ticket to this weekend’s festival got a big slice of the action last night when the city hosted a free community concert from 5pm in Greenmarket Square.
The showcase of performing artists from this year’s line-up included En Vogue and local Afro-pop heroes Mango Groove.
Also performing on the night were Danielle Jacobs, and the All Star Band, a group of young performers chosen from the festival's training and development workshops.
SWEET MELODIES: Jazz artist Moreira Chonguiça of the Moreira Project band from Mozambique was among the musicians. Picture PHANDO JIKELO
MOVE TO THE GROOVE: The Band Vudu from Port Elizabeth were a popular act at Greenmarket Square. Picture: PHANDO JIKELO
ENTERTAINED: Inaya and Willow got into the swing of things at the concert.
Picture: COURTNEY AFRICA
PACKED: Greenmarket Square was a hive of activity as throngs of music lovers attended the Free Jazz concert yesterday.Picture: David Ritchie