Sensational Mix Of International Icons For Jazz Festival 2012
(22 Nov 2011)
Leading South African event and artist promotion company, espAfrika, today announced the first 17 confirmed acts for next year’s 13th Cape Town International Jazz Festival which will take place from 30-31 March at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).
For the first time the festival brings multi grammy award-winner and back-to-back platinum gold selling vocalist James Ingram (USA) with hits such as Just Once and I Don’t Have The Heart. Ingram is best known for his hit collaborations such as Yah Mo Be There, Baby Come To Me and How Do You Keep The Music Playing.
Returning to the festival is award winning sensational music icon, internationally renowned jazz saxophonist Dave Koz (USA) with special guest Patti Austin (USA), six-time Grammy nominee and premier jazz and jazz-fusion guitarist Mike Stern (USA) performing with accomplished drummer Dave Weckl (USA), as well as South Africa’s own Virtual Jazz Reality (SA).
Serious jazz lovers can look forward to internationa jazz veterans the Brubeck Brothers, Darius (piano), Chris (bass) and Dan (drums) with special guest Mike Rossi (sax) playing as Brubecks play Brubeck (USA/SA). Jazz master bassist, Ron Carter (USA), saxophonist Donald Harrison (USA), creator of the the Noveau Swing Jazz style, and jazz fusion drummer Lenny White (USA), from Return To Forever fame, will be cooking up a storm on the Rosies Stage. Other artist to look forward to on the Rosies Stage include the Andre Petersen Quintet (SA) who will be launching their debut album.
Attracting the younger audience is indie hip-hop band Atmosphere (USA), as well as South African born female MC Jean Grae (USA). Other artists included in the first artist announcement include Cape Town electronic duo Goodluck (SA), South African songbird Zamajobe (SA) and local rising soul star Zahara (SA), all set to take the Bassline Stage by storm.
Audiences will be treated to a dynamic performance, fresh off the release of his newest album Outline, by The Jason Reolon Trio (SA), as well as Alfredo Rodriguez (Cuba), a young pianist of astonishing virtuosity and imagination, discovered and introduced to the festival by legendary music icon Quincy Jones, and Grammy award winning tenor saxophonist David Sanchez (Puerto Rico) invites Lionel Loueke (Benin), who has enjoyed a meteoric rise to fame over the past several years, as his special guest.
Audiences will also see The Moreira Project (Mozambique) fill venues with their unique afro-jazz sounds, as well as youth development band the Alexander Sinton High School Jazz Band (SA) who have been selected to open the festival on the Saturday.
“We are extremely excited about the variety of the line up. Audiences can expect an sensational mix of world-renowned icons and top quality rising stars, both local and international, young and old, and male and female. As usual we have put together a few exciting collaboration performances which promise audiences some spectacular shows,” said Rashid Lombard, festival director and CEO of espAfrika.
The Cape Town International Jazz Festival, now heading for its 13th year, is an integral part of South Africa’s cultural landscape and a highly respected global event on the international live music festival calendar. Each year the event attracts a thrilling range of the world’s leading jazz and jazz-related artists, as well as a contingent of top quality local and development acts.
“By combining top international jazz performers, with the finest local talent, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival has established itself as one of South Africa’s annual mega-musical highlights. Musical talent is vital to the success of these kinds of events, and music development programmes for the youth, such as those funded by the Western Cape Government, are the perfect platform to grow and nurture talent,” says Dr Ivan Meyer, Minister of Cultural Affairs and Sport in the Western Cape.
“Not only has The Cape Town International Jazz Festival become an iconic live music experience, but we are proud to say that it is also a significant contributor to the South African economy and tourism and entertainment industries. Last year’s event contributed R498 million to the Western Cape’s economy and created 2700 jobs,” says Billy Domingo, COO of espafrika.
The Cape Town International Jazz Festival was singled out in 2011 by President Jacob Zuma in the State of the Nation address, confirming the event’s significant contribution to local arts & culture, as well as the economy.
The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is managed by leading South African event management company espAfrika. The “sold out” tag on each year’s festival, as well the consistent line up of world class acts, attest to the world class spirit and ability with which the Cape Town International Jazz Festival is staged and managed.
As part of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival and espAfrika’s commitment to the sustainable development of the Music Arts industry, from musicians to production personnel, the festival provides a significant platform for development. Each year the event hosts a series of workshops aimed at transferring knowledge and skills, as well as making use of a significant contingent of students and aspiring professionals in the management and running of the event.
The festival proudly presents a series of workshops that take place at various venues throughout the CBD and greater Cape Town area over an 8 day period. This social investment component explores various elements of the jazz world and includes Arts Journalism, Music Workshops, Music Business, Master Classes as well as many other workshops. Another element of the CTIJF is the esteemed Duotone Photographic Exhibition that documents the emergence and growth of jazz globally. The Community Concert (free to all) will take place prior to the festival on the Wednesday before on 28th March 2012 on Green Market Square and is a showcase of some of the international and local acts scheduled to perform at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival.
Ticket prices for the 2012 festival are R400 for a single day pass. A two-day weekend pass is R550. As in previous years, there will be an extra fee of R30 per act for patrons wishing to attend concerts on the Rosies stage. Tickets are available at Computicket and Shoprite-Checkers stores.
The gold sponsor for the Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2012 is the Department of Arts and Culture. Other sponsors include Provincial Government of the Western Cape, The City of Cape Town, Oude Meerste, Hansa Pilsner, Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport, Cape Town Partnership, and the Western Cape Education Department. The official broasdcast sponsor is Mzansi Magic.
“In March 2012, a world-class line up of artists will descend upon the Mother City for the 13th Cape Town International Jazz Festival. This annual event, which draws over 34000 tourists and generates an economic boost of R463m for the province, has become one of the leading tourist events on our annual calendar. More recently, it has become the stage upon which the business world meets Cape Town, a place where international deals are brokered to the sounds of jazz saxophonists. The Western Cape Government is pleased to be associated with an event of this calibre that draws artists from across the globe, and we look forward to yet another spectacular show,” says Minister Alan Winde, MEC for Finance, Economic Development & Tourism for the Western Cape.
“On behalf of the City of Cape Town, I would like to encourage Cape Town jazz lovers to support this year’s Cape Town International Jazz Festival. This musical celebration epitomises what this administration aims to do in building an inclusive city by bringing together people from diverse backgrounds throughout the city and rest of the country to enjoy the musical talents of local artists and renowned international superstars. The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is a national treasure that’s injects over R400 million to the economy of the Western Cape and approximately R700 million to the economy of the country. The City will continue to support this festival to promote the heritage of jazz music and ensure that it continues to attract large crowds,” says Patricia De Lille, Executive Mayor of Cape Town.
For more information on this year’s event go to www.capetownjazzfest.com
ENDS
For more information, full artist biographies, photographs additional media enquiries or artist interview requests please contact:
Sarah Anderson @ Meropa Communications
+27 11 506 7316
+27 82 857 4398
saraha@meropa.co.za
John Boyd @ Meropa Communications
+27 11 506 7300
+27 84 310 9817
johnb@meropa.co.za
