(Shane
Cooper. Pic by Sam Lowe)
World class performance provides another
feather in the cap for the Standard Bank Jazz Festival. (Review by Keith
Millar)
The Standard Bank Jazz festival forms an
integral part of the National Arts Festival in Grahamstown every year. The
cream of South Africa’s jazz musicians is invited to perform, along with
handpicked artists from around the world. Audiences are treated to unique
collaborations between artists and the results are often world class.
This year was no different. I was
privileged to attend a performance of the Shane Cooper Quartet. The Cape Town
bassist and composer is this year’s winner of the Standard Bank Young Artist
Award for Jazz. He is an eclectic young musician who has rapidly become a first
call bassist in the world of serious jazz music. He has composed original music
for theatre, film and television. He is also a producer and educator.
The Shane Cooper Quartet included some of
South Africa’s finest young jazz players in a group of exciting talent and
musical skill. Joining him on stage were Justin Bellairs on sax, Bokani Dyer on
piano, Reza Khota on guitar and the incomparable Kesivan Naidoo on drums. Both
Dyer and Naidoo are previous winners of the Standard Bank Young Artist Award
for Jazz.
The concert consisted mainly of Cooper’s
own original music and featured some breathtaking playing from all the
musicians. Categorised as modern jazz, Cooper’s compositions show excellent
musicality, and variety, and are extremely listenable. Amongst others we heard Destination Unknown, Dead Letters and Oscillations. The later is also the title of Coopers latest CD
which was released recently.
Another memorable number, entitled Shadow Player, featured the quite
brilliant guitar playing of Reza Khota. It was a spectacular performance. South
Africa has many great guitarists and Khota definitely rates up there amongst
them.
As often is the case, the best was saved
for last. An extraordinary rendition of Led Zeppelin’s Black Dog blew the full house audience away and ensured that this
aged rocker went away with a happy heart.
I have no hesitation in saying that the
Shane Cooper Quartet produced a world class performance on the night and
provided yet another feather in the cap for the Standard Bank Jazz Festival at
Grahamstown. – Keith Millar
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