Cape Town Jazz Festival preview

Benin-born Lionel Loueke was picked as top Rising Star guitarist in Down Beat magazine's annual Critics Poll in 2008 and 2009 and calls Herbie Hancock his mentor. He combines a deep knowledge of African music with a conventional and extended guitar technique to create a warm sound of his own.

Benin-born Lionel Loueke was picked as top Rising Star guitarist in Down Beat magazine's annual Critics Poll in 2008 and 2009 and calls Herbie Hancock his mentor. He combines a deep knowledge of African music with a conventional and extended guitar technique to create a warm sound of his own.

Earlier this year, US smooth saxophonist Dave Koz, a six-time Grammy nominee, set the Kippies stage alight and he's becoming a regular favourite with the festival audience.

Jazz saxophonist, producer and three time Sama-winner, Moreira Chonguica is a noted ethnomusicologist based in Cape Town, but hails originally from Mozambique.

Formed in 1993, Cape Town-based VJR are Ian Smith on trumpet and flugel horn, Sammy Webber on bass, Andrew Ford on piano and vocals and Frank Paco on drums and vocals. Their repertoire ranges from light jazz to cutting-edge original compositions and they often serve as a launch pad for new and undiscovered local talent, so hopefully Carmen Herbert will join them on vocals.

South African pianist Andre Petersen and his quintet will launch their debut album and play with Reggie Washington (bass/US), Dre Pallemaerts (saxophonist/US) and Chantal Willie (vocals/SA).

International jazz veterans the Brubeck Brothers " Darius on piano, Chris on bass and Dan on drums " will be joined by special guest Mike Rossi on saxophone. Led by Darius, who is teaching and performing in Europe and is a Fullbright Senior Specialist in Jazz, the brothers played at the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown earlier this year.

US double bassist and cellist Ron Carter is one of the most recorded (and original and influential) bassists in jazz history. His extensive discography and 45-year long career includes working with everyone from Miles Davis to A Tribe Called Quest. He lectured and taught jazz ensembles and the business of music at many universities and remains as active as ever as a performer.

US funk/soul vocalist James Ingram won his first Grammy for his R&B vocal performance on Quincy Jones's album The Dude in 1981. He became best known throughout the 1980s and 1990s for his hit collaborations and |Oscar-nominated work on soundtracks.

Born Tshidi Ibrahim, Jean Grae is the daughter of Sathima Bea Benjamin and Abdullah Ibrahim. This indie hip hop artist has taken her inherited talent and created her own international fan base with This Week, Jeanius, Cookies or Comas and is about to release Cake or Death. The rapper, producer and vocalist works extensively with Talib Kweli and Pharoahe Monch.

Cape Toen 111118-Alexander Sinton High School Band, shot at school. Picture Jeffrey Abrahams

25-year-old Cuban pianist Alfredo Rodriguez got his big break in 2006 when he was selected as one of 12 pianists from around the world to play at the Montreux Jazz Festival, where he struck a chord with legendary music producer Quincy Jones. His debut album will be released later this year.

Cape Town-based Goodluck have been touring extensively with their electro sound alongside Basement Jazz, Paul Oakenfold, Just Jinjer and even acting as the opening act for electro dance duo Goldfish. The electro-swing trio blend electronic beats with jazz vocals, synths and keyboards.

Zahara became a lead singer of a church worship team and grew up listening to Hillsong. She learnt to play guitar and started performing around East London after leaving school. Picked up by TS Records, she's become an overnight sensation with her debut album, Loliwe.

Donald Harrison started the nouveau swing style of jazz (swing beat merged with many dance styles), but the New Orleans saxophonist also performs in the smooth jazz genre and is known to perform as a producer, singer and rapper in traditional Afro-New Orleans culture and hip hop genres with his group The New Sounds of Mardi Gras. He occasionally writes orchestral works for major orchestras.

Minneapolis-based indie hip hop group Atmosphere consist of rapper Slug and dj and producer Ant. Active since 1989, they have been a driving force behind the Twin Cities hip hop scene. While the lyrical content may speak about politics, economics and social issues, their beats are influenced by jazz, soul and classic rock. Expect to see them perform on the Bassline stage.