THE JAZZ Festival is turning sweet 16 next year and is ready to celebrate with the release of the first 20 names on the line-up.
While some of the potential headliners have yet to confirm their appearances, the first half of the line-up is exploding with local and international acts, including homegrown favourite Beatenberg.
The date is booked for March 27 and 28, when the CTICC will once again morph into a sprawling entertainment and hospitality venue, pegged to play host to 38 000 festival attendees.
International acts include Amel Larrieux, the Gerald Clayton Trio and the Wallace Roney Quintet featuring Lenny White and Buster Williams from the US.
From the UK, Courtney Pine presents House of Legends, Sons of Kemet and Basia, with Purbayan Chatterjee and Talvin Singh offering a mix of UK and India.
Two combination Swiss and South African groups confirmed are Bänz Oester and The Rainmakers, and Carlo Mombelli and The Storytellers, with the Dirty Loops from Sweden.
The South African artist offerings include the Claude Cozens Trio, Delft Big Band, Madala Kunene, Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, Naima Kay, The Brother Moves On, Zoe Modiga, Mahotella Queens 50th anniversary celebration with special guests, while Melanie Scholtz presents Our Time, featuring Jitsvinger.
The festival is a major money-spinner for the City of Cape Town as illustrated by statistics published last week by Councillor Johan van der Merwe, acting mayoral committee member for Tourism, Events and Economic Development. The 34 000 festival-goers inject R553 million into the local economy and create 2 723 jobs.
In terms of media coverage, the festival plays host to 350 local and international media brands, with a “media value” of R199m.
Mayor Patricia de Lille said the City of Cape Town wanted to do its bit to ensure recognition of culture and heritage.
“We want to celebrate what has become an integral part of Cape Town’s cultural landscape.
“Each year jazz lovers come together through their love of music. This event helps to bring us together in creating the kind of future we want for Cape Town; one of communities, united in a common goal, love or interest.
“The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is one such ‘common’ interest that helps us build a truly inclusive city while also providing a great platform for artists,” De Lille said.
The Department of Arts and Culture is the main sponsor of the event.
“The festival has grown by leaps and bounds to become an important flag bearer for the role and contribution of the performing arts, especially jazz music, in tourism, nation building and, above all, economic development,” Minister Nathi Mthethwa said.
“Over the years, the festival has attracted a growing audience from all corners of the country and the world. Significantly, it has created a platform for indigenous artists to showcase their outstanding talent alongside their international counterparts and to continue to nourish the soul of our people.
“Few will doubt that this festival continues to make a meaningful contribution to bringing diverse people together, creating employment opportunities and fostering a spirit of economic self-reliance among our musicians and other players in the sector.”
Tickets will set you back R860 for a full weekend pass, R530 for a day pass and R30 per performance on the Rosies stage.
Passes are available immediately from Computicket.
Visit www.capetownjazzfest.com for updates. - Cape Argus