LEGENDARY jazz pianist Abdullah Ibrahim and legend in the making Kyle Shepherd compete with hip hop and house favourites Mi Casa, AKA and Da Les to complete this year’s Cape Town International Jazz Festival line-up.
The second half of the line-up was announced yesterday at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, the site of the festival at the end of March.
Weekend passes sold out last week and only day passes at R490 remain.
The 15th festival appears to be going for a nostalgic feel, bringing back many popular acts which have appeared in the Mother City over the years. Festival organisers have re-invited English jazz-funk 1980s band Shakatak, and English pop rock/jazz-funk band Level 42 will also make the trek.
American smooth saxophonist Kirk Whalum returns for the second year running with The Gospel According to Jazz Africa Chapter 1, while contemporary US R&B songbird Lalah Hathaway and Senegalese singer Moh Dediouf put in their first appearance.
On the local front, Shepherd will collaborate with Bokani Dyer, while Andile Yenana, Marcus Wyatt, Mthunzi Mvubu, Janus van der Merwe, Thembinkosi Mavimbela, Ayanda Sikade and Siya Makuzeni will play as The Blue Note Tribute Orkestra to commemorate the legendary 1960s South African jazz sestet.
Festival favourites Jimmy Dludlu, Alvin Dyers, Richard Ceasar and Saudiq Khan will together pay tribute to the great legends of SA Jazz.
Randy Weston’s African Rhythms Trio (US), Tasha’s World (The Netherlands) and The Tizer Quintet (US) complete the international programme. Locals The Mike Rossi Project: Trespassing Permitted, Mathew Gold and The Worcester Secondary School Band round up the line-up.
• The festival takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on March 28 and 29.