Closing cultural gaps
AS PART of a special Taipei-Cape Collaboration, made possible by the Spotlight Taiwan Project, visiting Taiwanese jazz musicians Chipin Hsieh (jazz violin) and Kai-ya Chang (piano) will join forces with Cape Town jazz musicians Amanda Tiffin, Shaun Johannes and Kevin Gibson to present a series of special performances in Cape Town from October 15-22.
The music of Hsieh and Chang is a unique blend of jazz, classical and traditional Taiwanese elements. Promising a sensational experience, audiences can expect to hear the velvet voice of Cape Town jazz vocalist Tiffin, blended with the soulful violin of Hsieh, backed by the dynamic rhythms of Gibson, Johannes, and Chang, woven together with the very special sounds of Africa from awardwinning maestro, Dizu Plaatjies.
The Spotlight Taiwan initiative is facilitated by the Taipei Liaison Office, Cape Town, through the Ministry of Culture, Taiwan. The project seeks to promote international cultural exchanges and cultivate a greater interest in and appreciation of Taiwan’s culture worldwide.
On Sunday, October 15 at 6.30pm, the ensemble will come together to create a blended sound, an intermingling of different cultures in music, before Plaatjies leaves to perform in Taiwan. This concert takes place in the Chisholm Recital Room, South African College of Music at the University of Cape Town (UCT).
Two more concerts (without Dizu) will be held on October 21 at the Kronendal Music Academy in Hout Bay at 7pm and on October 22 at the Olympia Bakery, Kalk Bay at 6pm.
There is a public lecture on October 18 at 6.30pm, entitled: “Creating new with old: Incorporating Taiwanese traditional music influences in the Contemporary Jazz Compositions of Hsieh and Chang”.
They will be talking about the composition process, perform a selection of numbers from their albums and discussmusic in Taiwan. There will be a Q&A session after the lecture, which is in Room S4, Entrance is free.
Tickets for Kronendal cost R130. Book at www.quicket.co.za or call 021 790 4457. Olympia Bakery tickets are R150. Book at www.quicket.co.za or contact Paul Kahanovitz on 082 892 0350.
Take a trip to apple country in Ceres for the Eselfontein MTB Festival from October 13 to15. Eselfontein is a farm that produces apples, pears, peaches and dairy in the Warm Bokkeveld of Ceres. The festival is being sponsored by TruCape, which means proceeds can be donated to charity. Around R100 000 is given to schools and homes for the aged. A shout-out to Deon and Janene Malherbe – who are fifth generation owners of Eselfontein and passionate about holding the annual event and assisting those in need. Do support it and get good exercise and fresh air. The festival comprises a three-stage mountain bike event and trail run which begins at 6pm on the Friday and continues at 7am on Saturday and Sunday. Free camping is available for entrants. There will be live music, a market, food stalls, craft beer, entertainment and activities for children. Entries online or on the day at www.eselfontein.co.za, janene@eselfontein.co.za, call 082 502 8810 or see https://www.entryninja. com/events/event/15161. Individual entries R1 000 each.
Email janene@eselfontein.co.za, before noon tomorrow. Subject line: ToTT EselfonteinMTB. Please include your cellphone number.
Choreographer, dance artist and activist Mamela Nyamza is staging two of her works at the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio from October 17 to 28. Each piece will be on for four performances only. Rock to the Core is on October 17 to 21, followed by De-Apart-Hate from October 24 to 28 October at 7.30pm. Rock to the Core, featuring Chuma Sopotela, Zikhona Zee Jacobs, Indalo Bennet and Buhlebezwe Siwani and recently had its world premiere at the Cape Town Fringe Festival. Nyamza will perform in De-Apart-Hate with Aphiwe Livi.This powerful piece “reflects complexities of current issues in society and the world”. R100/R60 seniors and students – on presentation of a valid ID.
E-mail jestine.saias@uct.ac.za by 6pm tomorrow. SUBJECT LINE:ToTT.
Siv Ngesi is performing his new solo show, Siv-ilized in the Baxter Golden Arrow Studio, until October 14, at 8.30pm. It has been four years since Ngesi went solo in Cape Town as he has been busy taking on roles in film and on TV. He is also a prolific producer of other comics. R120/Computicket/www.computicket. com/0861 915 8000.
E-mail bookings@capacityrelations.co.zaby 6pm today. Subject line ToTT.