Taking place this weekend is the world renowned Cape Town International Jazz Festival. This year’s event include artists from Gazelle to Hugh Masekela and Larry Willis with a special performance by legends Earth, Wind and Fire. Never in our nation’s history has a music event been singled out in a State of the Nation address like President Jacob Zuma did when he said, “We have also seen the value of events such as the Cape Town International Jazz Festival which, contributed more than R475 million to the economy of Cape Town and created 2 000 jobs in 2010”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Audiences can look forward to two days of exceptional jazz performances right here in the Mother City. Also expect to be blown away by the “concept bands,” put together by the festivals organisers. These are bands that are specifically assembled for the event. With a number of Cape Town jazz musicians having passed on in the last year. The Cape Town Tribute Band, under the directorship of Alvin Dyers, will pay tribute to Winston Mankunku, Tony Schilder, Donald Tshomela, Ezra Ngcukana, Robbie Jansen and Hotep Galeta and Vincent Kolbe. In addition to “concept bands” other headline acts to perform include guitarist, composer, and arranger Chieli Minucci, US guitarist Chuck Loeb, drummer Cindy Blackman–Santana, and vocalist BeBe Winans.

Earth, Wind & Fire’s 40 Anniversary World Tour

The band’s performance in Cape Town is part of their 40th Anniversary World Tour. Earth, Wind and Fire reinvented music in the early 1970s with their brand of African and African-American styles. Known for they outrageous outfits and fresh harmonies, Earth, Wind and Fire embody the provocative freedom and glam of the ’70s.

 

Gazelle graces the stage on Saturday night, and just recently these African Kings – Xander Ferriera and Nick Matthews – have combined African fantasy with reality for their latest video, entitled Chic Afrique. The always theatrical and expressive Afro-disco pop stars took to the African Savanah in the search for a connection between a real world and a mythical place. Kings, Queens, a Sangoma and the Tokolosh all play their part in what is to be one of the most coveted and cinematic music videos in South Africa for 2011.

 

The festival also gives artists an opportunity to reach out to communities. This social investment element explores various components of the jazz world and includes Arts Journalism, Music Workshops, Music Business, Master Classes, Arts and Culture Focus Schools, Gigs for Kids, Youth Workshops and the Photography Workshop. Two exciting new additions to this year’s workshops is The Juilliard School, New York – Conversations 2011: A Trans-Continental Jazz Event and The Berklee College of Music (US) -Auditions, Interviews and Clinics.

Check out last year’s Jazz Festival when one small seed was there to capture all the action. CLICK HERE and keep posted to www.onesmallseed.tv

Images courtesy of Google