Erykah Badu tops jazz fest bill

Published Dec 10, 2013

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Celebrated American artist Erykah Badu will be the star attraction at the 15th Cape Town International Jazz festival. The eccentric neo-soul singer heads up a list of local and international artists requested by festival fans.

“We’ve listened to our fans and we think we’ve got an even more exciting – and crowd-pleasing – festival. After all, it is called Africa’s grandest gathering,” said Rashid Lombard, the CEO espAfrika, the company which organised the event.

Among the local artists gracing the bill are jazz genius Jonas Gwangwa, rapper Reason, and hot young band on the rise The Muffinz. Leading the international charge are grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Carmen Lundy, the critically acclaimed Kenny Garret Quintet, and hip hop and jazz fusion artists The Foreign Exchange.

Badu, however, will generate the most excitement among mainstream fans. She is known primarily for her breakthrough 1997 album, Baduizm, a musical masterclass that borrowed from the essence of speakeasies and boho coffee shop culture. Propelled by hit single “On & On,” the album went multi-platinum, winning her two Grammys for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Album.

The full list for the Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2014 is as follows:

SOUTH AFRICAN: Jonas Gwangwa; The Soil; Jimmy Nevis; Shane Cooper; Reason; The Muffinz; Ological Studies; Soul Housing Project; Dr Philip Tabane and Malombo.

INTERNATIONAL: Erykah Badu(USA); Haitus Kaiyote (AUS); Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet (USA); The Foreign Exchange (USA); Kenny Garrett Quintet (USA); Chris Dave and the Drumhedz (USA); Rakesh Chaurasia & Friends (India); Snarky Puppy (USA); Jaco Maria (Mozambique); Carmen Lundy (USA).

Tickets are on sale from Computicket (50% of early bird specials are already sold).

Prices are: R795 for a weekend pass and R490 for a day pass  - Tonight Reporter

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