Jazz lovers’ feast with city’s top international festival
THE 19th Cape Town International Jazz Festival takes place from March 23 to 24 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre and many international artists will be performing, including Corinne Bailey Rae, dubbed the British queen of soul. The singer, songwriter, record producer and guitarist has made many hits, including Put Your Records On.
Other international artists who will be performing include Mulatu Astatke (Ethiopia), pianist Vijay Iyer Sextet (US) and Jordan Rakei (New Zealand).
South Africa’s Mi Casa, Claire Phillips, Amanda Black and the Sekunjalo Edujazz Band are among the entertainers.
The festival’s official sponsors are the Department of Arts and Culture, Independent Media and the City of Cape Town.
Others are South African Tourism, Amstel, Johnny Walker and Peninsula Beverages.
Independent Media’s group executive for marketing and communication, Lutfia Vayej, said sustainable training and development programmes, job creation opportunities and the promotion of local talent and artists on the African continent were in line with Independent Media’s empowerment and development objectives and the key reason for the company’s sponsorship of the festival once again.
“The many side events leading up to the festival, such as the art, journalism, photography and music workshops, the focus on nurturing local talent and the creation of hundreds of jobs before and during the festival, have all added value to Independent Media’s investment in the festival ... this is also a great opportunity for us to indirectly and directly engage with our various audiences, advertisers and key stakeholders,” said Vayej.
Festival director Billy Domingo, chief operating officer of espAfrika, said: “This year we set out to create a strong programme in which every artist is a star. The festival is rooted and inspired in a jazz legacy with known favourites, but also with the excitement of discovering new material and artists that will blow fans away with their musical creativity.
“Together with our customary panel of music experts, I believe we have melded a cracking line-up that will appeal to exacting festival goers, who join us every year to celebrate, but also to a newer and younger audience, who are uncovering the delights of their own musical journeys through the festival.”
For enquiries, log on to hwww. capetownjazzfest.com