TopDog SA to explore their indigenous roots
WELL-KNOWN Cape Town-based band TopDog SA will be taking audiences on an indigenous journey with their second instalment of the Nama Jazz Series at Artscape Arena from December 28 to 31.
The group will be drawing music from the ancient well of African music and instruments, fusing it with modern Cape jazz traditions and genres.
This presentation will be underlined with the narrative: “This is who we are”.
Speaking on what audiences can expect, Camillo Lombard said: “Nama Jazz II will explore deeper into our indigenous roots.
“Our quest in pushing the indigenous envelope has led us to understanding our genealogical thread as a 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 of a modern jazz context influenced by our visit to the San centre on the West Coast Route – !Khwa ttu.”
In the show, TopDog SA will use mouth bows, the Boesmans klavier (African piano), the talking drum and rice shakers – instruments used by the Cape Khoena.
These instruments are the origins of the band’s music, which links these indigenous instruments to contemporary sounds such as the accordion, banjo, melodica and flute, which will feature in the performance.
The band is composed of an allstar cast including Don Vino (saxophone), Camillo Lombard (keyboard), Charlton Daniels (bass), Mornay Hofmeester (drums) and Mark Williams (lead guitar).
The band will be performing songs from their album The Griqua DNA, which was released in March 2016 at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, as well as new songs composed for this show.
TopDog SA were established four years ago and have made a name for themselves as one of South Africa’s premier jazz bands, having performed with local and international legends.
Nama jazz is a new term that has given their music a unique style and is a fusion between indigenous melodies, rhythms and jazz chord progressions.
This jazz series complements Artscape’s inclusive transformation policy that seeks to stage previously marginalised art forms as part of centre-stage productions, thus creating a cultural institution accessible to all and for all art forms. Performances will be held from December 28 to December 30 daily at 7.30pm and on Sunday, December 31 from 6pm.
Tickets cost R70 per person and are available through Artscape Diala-Seat on 021 421 7839 and at Computicket outlets.