Afro-Jazz
is one of the genres that will be highlighted at The Standard Bank Jazz
Festival, Grahamstown, in 2013.
The
Standard Bank Jazz Festival, Grahamstown 2013 incorporates a variety of
disciplines into its programme. Afro-Jazz is just one part of the formidable
line-up which includes Mainstream, Blues/Funk/World Music, Modern Jazz, Youth
and the Standard Bank Jazz and Blues Café.
With a
significant career in South African jazz that has spanned over 40 years, it
would be difficult to find a more accomplished and versatile jazz musician than
trombonist Jonas Gwangwa. He first gained popularity playing with South
Africa’s iconic group, The Jazz Epistles, and after exile in the US he began to
gain recognition, performing in venues such as Carnegie Hall alongside the
likes of Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela and Letta Mbulu. He composed the scores
of films like Cry Freedom and
appeared at the 60th Annual Academy Awards.
Believing
that "politics and culture cannot be separated," Jonas Gwangwa’s
total commitment to the struggle to end apartheid is intrinsic to his music. He
headlines the Afro-Jazz portion of the programme with Percy Mbonani (sax),
Mzamo Bhengu (trumpet), Sabelo Mtshali (keyboard), Kenny Mathaba (guitar),
Bongani Ncube (bass), Godfrey Mngcina (drums), Keitu Gwangwa (vocal), Thobekile
Masinga (vocal), and Nicolette Shange (vocal).
Gloria
Bosman - a former Standard Bank Young Artist Award winner - is a household name
in South Africa, acclaimed for her sonorous voice and authentic stage presence.
After she was awarded a scholarship to study opera at Pretoria Technikon, she
toured France with Jonas Gwangwa and subsequently sang for both presidents,
Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki. Her debut album Tranquility won the SAMA Best Newcomer award and she has sung with
the cream of South African musicians for over a decade. Bosman performs in
Grahamstown supported by Ezra Erasmus (keyboards), Themba Peebles Mambane
(piano), Sakhile Thembalethu Nkosi (bass) and Julius Bernice Boikano (drums).
The
backbone of the Jazz repertoire is a collection of standards – tunes all jazz
musicians know well. So it is with the South African jazz repertoire; we share
an intimate connection with a certain set of songs that have defined our
musical identity. Led by Umlazi trumpeter Brian Thusi – who cut his teeth in
the African Jazz Pioneers – this band brings together a drummer from the
Eastern Cape (Ayanda Sikade), pianist and bass from the Western Cape (Kyle
Shepherd and Wesley Rustin), and a saxophonist from Australia who grew up in
1970s Cape Town (Mark Ginsberg), to share their personal inflections on South
African classics we all know and love.
As one
of South Africa’s natural bebop exponents, Barney Rachabane has forged an
impressive solo career after cementing his international reputation with Paul
Simon’s Graceland project in the 1980s. His unique style combines bebop and
blues, threaded through always with the inflections of the kwela of his Soweto
youth. He brings together a sextet which is particularly special - including
his daughter, Octavia, on vocals and grandson, Oscar, on tenor sax. They are
joined by Mohau Kekana (piano), Solly Mokolobate (bass), and Bacco Xaba
(drums).
Guitarist
Menyatso Mathole’s performance credits are a history of South African jazz –
collaborations with Zakes Nkosi, Dick Khoza, Winston Mankunku, Dudu Pukwana,
Bheki Mseleku, Miriam Makeba, Basil Manenburg Coetzee and many others. He was a
co-founder - with Sipho Gumede and Khaya Mahlangu - of the seminal Afro-Jazz
band Sakhile that faced the difficulties of the apartheid years and its limited
air-play for black Africans and reinforced the music of South Africa’s exiled
artists. Mathole has continued this vision in his solo career, teaching in
community colleges and keeping the tradition alive, especially in far-flung
places like Thaba Nchu and the North West. He brings this history to life in
Grahamstown, with Jimmy Mngwandi (bass) and Ayanda Sikade (drums).
This year
will also see the establishment of the Standard Bank Jazz & Blues Cafe at
the Lowlander, St. Andrew’s College, which will end each night with a great
jazz show and a late night jazz jam session or blues gig – a place where
audiences can catch musicians letting off steam and butting musical heads late
into the night, featuring the likes of Nduduzo Makhathini, saxophonist Dan
Shout, Lee Thomson, Imbaula, and the Rick van Heerden Quartet.
The 39th
edition of the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown will take place from June 27
to July 7 2013. For more information check www.standardbankarts.co.za or www.youthjazz.co.za
The
Standard Bank Jazz Festival is presented with support funding from: Institut
Français, the French Institute of South Africa and the Alliance Française Paul
Bothner Music ProHelvetia Royal Netherlands Embassy Royal Norwegian Embassy
SAMRO Swedish Arts Council / Swedish Jazz Federation / Mary Lou Meese Youth
Jazz Fund Jamey Aebersold Jazz
The National Arts Festival is sponsored by
Standard Bank, The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Eastern Cape
Government, Department of Arts and Culture, National Arts Council, City Press
and M Net. Click on the banner at the top of this page to take you to the
Festival website.
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