Cape Town – Well-known Cape Town-based band TopDog SA will take patrons on an indigenous journey with their third instalment of the Nama Jazz Series.
Nama Jazz, which pays musical homage to Khoi and San heroes, is a new term that has given the music unusual style and is a fusion of indigenous melodies, rhythms and jazz chord progressions.
The group will draw music from the ancient well of African music and musical instruments, fusing it with modern Cape jazz traditions and genres.
This presentation, known as Nama Jazz III, will be underlined with the narrative, “This Is Who We Are”.
Speaking on what audiences could expect, TopDog SA’s Camillo Lombard said: “Nama Jazz III will explore deeper into our indigenous roots.
"Our quest in pushing the indigenous envelope has led us to understanding our genealogical thread as southern African people and, in our case, the people from the Western !Xamka (Cape).
"People will experience musical stories of our journey, endorsing our musical geniuses of the past, with fusion a modern jazz context influenced by our visit to the San Park on the West Coast Route, !Khwa ttu”.
In the show, TopDog SA will use mouth bows, the Boesmans Klawier (African piano), the talking drum and rice shakers (instruments used by the Cape Khoena).
These instruments are the origins of their music, which links these indigenous instruments to contemporary sounds such as the accordion, banjo, melodica and flute, all of which will feature in the performance.
The band comprises an all-star cast including Don Vino (saxophone), Lombard (keyboard), Charlton Daniels (bass), Mornay Hoffmeester (drums) and Mark Williams (lead guitar).
They will perform songs from their album, Griqua DNA, released in March 2016 at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, as well as songs composed for this show.
This jazz series complements the Artscape’s inclusive transformation policy that seeks to stage previously marginalised art forms as part of Centre Stage Productions, therefore creating a cultural institution accessible to all and for all art forms.
The show will run at the Artscape from December 28 to 30 from 7.30pm, with the exception of the last day, which will feature two shows. Tickets are R80 and are available through Artscape Dial-a-Seat (021 421 7839) and Computicket.