Festival line-up announced
THE 20th Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) has added 15 eclectic artists to this year’s line-up.
Among them is renowned pianist Ibrahim Khalil Shihab.
Shihab earned a solid reputation as one of South Africa’s foremost piano talents of his generation.
The festival is taking place on March 29-30 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.
Featuring artists from a variety of musical styles, this year’s line-up promises to satisfy the tastes of every music lover.
In 1968, aged 22, Shihab led an ensemble, that included a young, fiery Winston Mankunku, which recorded Spring, in a Johannesburg studio.
The album has become an integral part of the rich legacy of jazz records in South Africa.
Shihab is most fondly remembered as pianist and primary songwriter for the ’70s band from the Cape Flats, Pacific Express.
In 2018 he released a brand new recording project, Essence of Spring.
This album pays homage to the very diverse range of Shihab’s compositional styles, from the most evocative jazz themes to more easy styled popular songs as well as showcasing his breath taking piano skills, both as a solo pianist and band leader.
Other artists who will perform at the festival include modern jazz guitarist John Scofield who will perform with an inter-generational band, billed as John Scofield’s “COMBO 66” featuring Vicente Archer, Gerald Clayton & Bill Stewart (US); Ben Volpeliere–Pierrot who performs as the sole remaining member of popular band Curiosity Killed the Cat (UK); and ‘Re-Percussions’ ft Moses Boyd, DJ Lag, Tiago Correia-Paulo, Nonku Phiri & Mandla Mlangeni (UK/SA/MOZ).
Previously announced artists include ten-time Grammy Award winner, Queen of Funk Chaka Khan (US); multiple award-winning jazz pianist Eliane Elias (Brazil); multi-instrumentalist, neo-soul group Moonchild (US); South Africa’s first all-female big band, The Lady Day Big Band; and local sensation, singer/ songwriter Shekhinah (SA).
Festival Director Billy Domingo said the festival will offer something for every music fan.
“We are curating a weekend for music lovers. Jazz remains our main focus, but we cannot ignore the wide-ranging wealth of talented musicians who deserve to perform at the festival,” said Domingo.
Tickets for CTIJF 2019 are available exclusively at Computicket. CTIJF 2019 Weekend Passes will remain the same price as last year: weekend pass: R 1290; day pass: R 850