Benefit concert for struggling Cape jazz legend
A fund-raising concert will be held for Sammy Webber
WELL-KNOWN Cape Town musician Sammy Webber is very ill and a benefit concert has been arranged to pay tribute to the jazz star. Webber is known for his talent on bass guitar and his stint with Virtual Jazz Reality. Seven years ago the star suffered from multiple sclerosis which severely affected him. His eyesight also suffered as a result, as well as his walking. Prior to his deteriorating health his medical bills stacked up and his gigs dried up slowly.
Several local music icons have come together to host a tribute show for Webber. It is set to take place on October 19 at the Artscape Theatre. Popular singer, songwriter and performer Alistair Izobell is the executive producer of the show. The show will consist of well-known performers paying tribute to Webber, Among those performers is 2005 Idols SA winner Karin Kortjé, The Voice South Africa’s Robin Pieters and jazz singer Carmen Xclusive. Popular musician Camillo Lombard is the music director of the show.
“Those who have contributed to the South African discography that we enjoy so much now, particularly, (are) Capetonian artists. We are failing at our humanity if we didn’t hold up the banner for those who made it easy for us while they struggled and fought for the great entertainment that we have today. So we are here to celebrate Sammy and his contribution to the SA and Cape Town discography of music that we have,” Izobell said.
Webber said it’s been tough for him since he was diagnosed. “It has been seven years since I have been diagnosed. In the beginning, as you can imagine, it was tough. I didn’t know what was happening with my body. I didn’t know what multiple sclerosis was, although I heard of the term,” Webber said.
The 58-year-old said that the sickness got him down and it attacked his body heavily from the start. Webber was born in the Bo-Kaap. He was forced to move out at the age of 2. His family then moved to Retreat where he is now lives. At the age of 5, he took up music. Webber has performed at various festivals around the world such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Dubai Jazz Festival. He has also toured Turkey and Tunisia along with British saxophone player Andrew Young.
Webber wants to go to the studio again soon to record his third CD. However, he needs funding. “I just cannot get the cash together to get into studio to record. What I want to do is get in a week to rehearse it nice and tight, so then we don’t have to spend that much time in studio.
“All the music is all my original Cape jazz recordings,” he said.