Ekurhuleni keeps Klaasen’s music playing

THE Ekurhuleni Metro has vowed to continue with arrangements to stage a tribute concert for jazz legend Thandi Klaasen despite her death.

Klaasen died on Sunday after fighting pancreatic cancer. When she died, the city, together with Klaasen’s daughter Lorraine, had already begun to organise a concert to celebrate her career that spanned over six decades.

Though the dates have not yet been confirmed, the organisers are looking at two – either April 27 or June 15. It’s scheduled for Carnival City in Brakpan.

Last year, Lorraine staged an intimate event in Sophiatown to honour her mother. The celebration was supposed to have been a two-legged event, however the second part was postponed at the insistence of Ekurhuleni as they wanted to be part of it.

The spokeswoman for Ekurhuleni mayor Mzwandile Masina, Gugu Ndima, said it was a pity that the event would be staged posthumously.

“Of course, we would have wanted to do the event with Klaasen alive, but God took her just a few months before it happened. We will honour one of the greatest citizens of this country whose music touched the whole world,” she said.

“Klaasen did not only touch the masses with her music but she also contributed to the growth of the country’s music,” Ndima said.

Klaasen has been afforded a civic funeral, which will be arranged and funded by Ekurhuleni Metro.