Blue Notes tribute project honours legacy of exiled Eastern Cape jazz sextet

The legacy of The Blue Notes jazz sextet was held high on Sunday evening as the Blue Note Tribute Orkestra paid homage to the Eastern Cape jazzos.

The Blue Notes were a South African jazz band made up of Chris McGregor, Mongezi Feza, Dudu Pukwana, Nikele Moyake, Johnny Dyani, and Louis Moholo – the band's only surviving member.

All Eastern Cape originals, the band went into exile in 1964, where they established themselves on the European jazz circuit and gained popularity, fusing African styles like kwela with free jazz and other progressive international jazz approaches.

Most of the band members died outside of the country.

In 2011, Port Elizabeth-born trumpet master Marcus Wyatt took on the heritage project of bringing Blue Notes music back to South African audiences.

Wyatt put together a predominantly Eastern Capebased outfit including legendary pianist Andile Yenana. Together they serenaded a thrilled audience at the Standard Bank Jazz Festival taking place alongside the National Arts Festival at the Diocesan School For Girls in Makhanda.

Wyatt put the group together to honour the legends years ago and revive their approach to South African jazz. "We began our trip of discovery of the Blue Notes who weren’t much noticed in South Africa because they were in exile. The project is to honour their legacy and music and bring it back to South Africa and specifically the Eastern Cape, where it belongs.”

Wyatt said the Eastern Cape had the most influence on the history and development of South African jazz.

“For some reason a lot of loved musicians in South Africa come from this province,” he said.

The tribute band played pieces from individual members of the Blue Notes and tapped deep into the history of the jazz legends before a diverse audience of young and old music lovers from all walks of life.

Wyatt invited the crowd to get up and groove to the tunes of the Blue Notes and they did.

He said this project is just one flower in a bunch which is starting to bloom.

“Long may this festival live. We are struggling as a country but let us try to support and may we keep these things alive long as we can.”