BRUBECK BROTHERS AT CT FESTIVAL

Serious jazz lovers can look forward to international 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) at the 13th Cape Town International Jazz Festival. This will take place from March 30 to 31 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).

Darius Brubeck made a major contribution to the survival of jazz in KwaZulu-Natal as he was the driving force behind the University of KwaZulu-Natal’s Centre for Jazz and Popular Music Studies, a programme which he ran for several years.

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. 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).

Jazz master bassist, Ron Carter (USA), saxophonist Donald Harrison (USA), creator of the Nouveau 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. Another artist to look forward to will be the Andre Petersen Quintet (SA).

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.
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.

Another element of the CTIJF is the esteemed Duotone Photographic Exhibition that documents the emergence and growth of jazz globally. The free Community Concert on March 28 in Green Market Square is a showcase of some of the international and local acts scheduled to perform at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival.

Tickets R400 for a single day pass (R550 two-day weekend pass). 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 broadcast sponsor is Mzansi Magic.

For more information and a full programme, visit www.capetownjazzfest.com