Features

Who to see at Cape Town International Jazz Fest 2019

By Michael Britton

27 Mar 2019 - 10:29

A few days ago, I made a vague suggestion to my editor that I write a pre-Cape Town International Jazz Festival wish list. This was partly to help the undecided audience, but mostly to justify to myself why I’ll be getting very little sleep for the duration of a festival that has such an extraordinary range of brilliant, must-see artists.

Nubya Garcia. Photo: Facebook/Rodrigo Gianesi

He said, “Yeah, something like a top-10 listicle”, and proceeded to suggest a few artists who should be included – only one of which coincided with my already crowded and impractical top-15 listicle.

The organisers of the festival have clearly used a very broad definition of the term ‘jazz’ to make the “line-up as diverse and interesting as possible”. So if there are any ‘jazz police’ out there, those who want their jazz to sound just like it did 50 years ago, this list is going to have you garumphing into your tea.

Here then, in alphabetical order, is the top 11 shows to see at this weekend’s Cape Town Internartional Jazz Festival.

African Time Meeting Legends Overtime (South Africa)

The name is a mouthful but refers to Herbie Tsoaeli’s 2013 African Time album and to the jazz legends who have influenced him over time. This ensemble features Herbie (bass, vocals), Sydney Mnisi (tenor saxophone), Feya Faku (flugelhorn, trumpet), Andile Yenana (piano), and Kevin Gibson (drums). Their music is, according to Herbie, “The music of the present and the future, guided by spirits, energies and vibrations from the past. There is no time limit.”

Why this band?

African jazz played by African jazz masters. Herbie Tsoaeli is a superbly accomplished bass player, and is supported by a quartet of highly experienced, supremely talented and totally dedicated musicians. This will be special.

Watch Herbie Tsoaeli, on his own, live at the Bird’s Eye Jazz Club in Basel, Switzerland, below:

Bickram Ghosh Quartet (India)

Bickram Ghosh is one of India’s greatest tabla masters and is widely regarded as a pioneering force in the world of experimental fusion music. He has featured on four Grammy-nominated albums, and played on Full Circle with Ravi Shankar, which won a Grammy. Accompanying him at the festival will be Arun Kumar (drums), Abhishek Mallik (electric sitar) and Jonathan Kay (saxophone).

Why this band?

When jazz stops pushing boundaries, it’s dying. And this band will stretch those boundaries.

Cory Henry & The Funk Apostles (US)

Organ virtuoso Cory Henry heads up a band that plays a blend of blues, soul, R&B, Afrobeat, gospel and jazz. Henry is known for his role in Snarky Puppy, the instrumental jazz-pop orchestra hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as “one of the more versatile groups on the planet”. His deft keyboard skills have been blowing minds around the world for more than two decades now.

Why this band?

They redefine energy, blur genres and play havoc with your expectations.

John Scofield’s Combo 66 (US)

Apart from being one of the innovators of modern jazz guitar, John Scofield is a creative artist who has forged a consistent and rock-solid aesthetic identity. To commemorate turning 66, Scofield wrote 12 new compositions and formed a new group to record and tour the music. Gerald Clayton was an obvious choice on piano, an instrument central to the new tunes. The connection between Scofield and drummer Bill Stewart strengthens as the decades pass, and it was Stewart who introduced bassist Vicente Archer to the project.

Why this band?

A masterful guitarist who makes what you hear defy what you’re seeing. Real class and style, supported by a way more than competent band that superlatives cannot describe.

KNOWER (US)

KNOWER is a Los Angeles-based musical duo featuring drummer-producer Louis Cole and singer Genevieve Artadi. The duo stretches the boundaries between jazz and funk, often collaborating with various independent musicians.

Why this band?

Young, wildly energetic, recklessly redefining genres. Racing funk. Jazz on speed. Gulp. Blink. Then smile as they take off again.

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Nicole Mitchell’s Black Earth Ensemble (US)

Flautist and composer Nicole Mitchell’s Black Earth Ensemble (BEE) is a musical celebration of African-American cultural legacy. They have performed at festivals and art venues throughout Europe, Canada and the US. Their music combines swing, blues, avant-garde, jazz, bebop, African rhythms, and Eastern and Western classical sounds that embrace the ancient past and paint visions of a positive future.

Why this band?

Love the mellowness, the sensitivity and sensuality that Mitchell’s flute playing brings to jazz. Her ensemble changes over the years, from trio to nonet, and there’s no knowing who will be with her in Cape Town. But it’s sure to be beautiful, haunting.

Nubya Garcia (UK)

London-based saxophonist and composer Nubya Garcia is one of the leading forces behind the resurgence of jazz-influenced sounds in the UK. Her Afro-tinged jazz has made her a key component in a string of new and established groups.

Why this band?

Young. Talented. Exciting. Beautiful. And turning heads, and ears, around.

rePercussions featuring Moses Boyd, DJ Lag, Tiago Correia-Paulo, Nonku Phiri & Mandla Mlangeni (UK/South Africa/Mozambique)

rePercussions brings together the free-flowing elements of jazz and the infectious danceability of gqom. With musicians who are each groundbreaking in their own right, the constant pull of creative energy between them lets them iterate their sonic stories through textured digi-analogue blends.

Why this band?

Apart from it being a cross-genre, cross-cultural band (which is always exciting), it includes such diverse elements as Tiago Correia-Paulo (Tumi & the Volume, 340ml), DJ Lag (a pioneer of the Durban gqom sound), and trumpeter and composer Mandla Mlangeni.

No videos of this combo exist, but here’s a clip of Mandla Mlangeni playing with the Tune Recreation Committee:

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Richard Bona (Cameroon)

Cameroonian Richard Bona’s seemingly effortless voice, fierce bass playing and strong songwriting skills have established an international reputation that transcends cultural boundaries. His new album draws on the shared heritage, folklore and traditional music of West Africa and Cuba.

Why this band?

Unmistakeably Cuban. Unmistakeably African. Unmistakeably unique. And foot tappingly exciting.

The Mill (South Africa/Switzerland)

This multifaceted collaboration between Swiss and South African musicians is set to break new grounds in the pairing of two distinct and seemingly dissimilar worlds. The Mill is a mishmash of horn arrangements, piano and razor-sharp guitar. Participating musicians include Marco Müller (bass), Matthias Tschopp (alto and baritone saxophone), Fabian Willman (bass clarinet and tenor saxophone), Florian Egli (soprano and alto saxophones), Yonela Mnana (piano and vocals), Siya Makuzeni (trombone and vocals), Mandla Mlangeni (trumpet) and Vuma Levin (guitar).

Why this band?

If for no other reason, because it’s another cross-border, cross-cultural collaboration. Besides, I love Mandla Mlangeni’s approach to musical collaborations. He says they’re a dinner party, where each guest is asked to bring a dish. Feast on this show.

Unfortunately there are no visuals of this ensemble yet, but below is a video of the versatile Makuzeni:

The Reza Khota Quartet (South Africa)

Reza Khota’s formal music training led to a master’s degree in guitar performance from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. Playing with him is saxophonist Buddy Wells, who has earned significant recognition for projects across genres. A rhythm section of Shane Cooper on contrabass (and a band leader in his own right) and Jonno Sweetman on drums complete this exciting quartet.

Why this band?

Like free jazz? Then this is a must-see. These guys don’t just play brilliantly, they also listen carefully to each other. The resulting conversation is wide-open, manifesting in sparse restraint and, at times, in explosive visceral excitement.

Listen to the quartet’s rendition of Mulatu Astatke‘s ‘Yekatit’ below:

For more information, visit the Cape Town International Jazz Festival’s official website.

# Jazz Cape Town International Jazz Festival South Africa

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