City cashes in on jazz fest
Free concert on Greenmarket Square today is designed to be enjoyed by everybody
CAPE Town has been a jazz-loving city since the mid20th century, when American jazz standards blasted on radios and turntables throughout District Six. However, the city’s own brand of the genre, Cape jazz, has roots in past centuries – to the Khoekhoe and their goema drums. It has been influenced by south-migrating Africans, European settlers, and slaves from places such as western India and the Indonesian islands.
The Cape Town International Jazz Festival, which has a line-up featuring a mixture of jazz and jazz-influenced artists, local and international, has tapped into the tradition since 2000. It brings an audience of over 37 000 to the Cape Town International Convention Centre, making it one of the biggest music festivals in Africa. This year’s event will feature the likes of Al Jarreau, Basia, Amel Larrieux, Hugh Masekela, the Mahotella Queens, the Gavin Minter Septet and Prophets of da City.
Today, Greenmarket Square comes alive with guitars, bass, drums and keyboards as the organisers of the festival stage their annual free community concert, in association with the City of Cape Town and the Central City Improvement District. Much more than a curtain raiser, it features some of the jazz festival’s top performers, including Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse, Beatenberg and Courtney Pine, and is an opportunity to party with jazz lovers on the street.
Here are the CCID’s musical recommendations for a jazzy week:
For the record
If you’re looking for nostalgia – and great tunes – your first port of call should be the African Music Store on Long Street. Here you’ll find the work of Cape jazz greats such as Abdullah Ibrahim, as well as self-produced albums by unknown artists.
“If you make it, I’ll try to sell it,” says owner Mark Charnas. This is fantastic news for independent musicians as well as music lovers are after something new and fresh. Call 021 426 0857
Augmenting the African Music Store’s offering is newcomer The Eye; a coffee shop, art gallery and music store at 44a Bloem Street that sells cassette tapes (pencils not included) and vinyl records. Surrounded by vintage cameras and guitars, you’ll find the obligatory ’80s throwaways. Call 083 494 4814.
Live and loud
Cape Town’s premier jazz venue is arguably The Crypt. Founded by renowned South African jazz artists and aficionados Derk Blaisse, Mike Rossi, Wesley Rustin, Spencer Mbadu and Diane Rossi, this is a meeting place for cats of all creeds. The venue, at 1 Wale Street, seats 80. Jazz musicians perform Tuesdays to Saturdays. Call 079 683 4658 or visit www.thecryptjazz.com.
For African fare, you could try another Long Street institution, Mama Africa. Its famed wild game mixed grill is the way to go as you listen to a marimba band. Call 021 424 8634 or visit www.mamaafricarestaurant.co.za.
Another favourite in Long Street is The Waiting Room, where bands play live on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays. A highlight this week is Natural Selection tomorrow featuring Alister Johnson and Gavin Bonner. Call 021 422 4536 or visit www.facebook.com/WaitingRoomCT.
If you are out on the streets, the city’s Busking Pilot Project is on until March 31.
Taking matters into your own hands
Stocking everything, see marshallmusic.co.za.
To book some lessons with a performing musician at the Jazz Workshop at 214A Buitengracht, call 021 424 4956.
And if you’re no good, maybe it’s best to just dance. Jazzart offers contemporary and Afrofusion classes, and the Latin experts at Que Pasa give lessons in sexy styles including Cuban, swing, salsa and tango.
Jazzart: Artscape Theatre Centre, DF Malan St. Call 021 410 9848.
Que Pasa: Artscape Theatre Centre, DF Malan Street. Call 074 199 0918 or visit www.quepasa.co.za.