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What's on at the 32nd Standard Bank Jazz Fest
Born To Be Black: A Celebration of the Conscious Soul
One of the main highlights of the festival annually is the anticipation around exciting collaborations in the Standard Bank Young Artist’s chosen projects. Award-winner for jazz, trumpeter Mandla Mlangeni presents the Amandla Freedom Ensemble – Born To Be Black: A Celebration of the Conscious Soul - a super-band of nine musicians skilled in the art of improvisation, intended to be an ‘odyssey of musical meditation and healing’. Mlangeni’s peers form the foundation of the group, helped along by respected mentors drummer Louis Moholo-Moholo, saxophonist Salim Washington and pianist Andile Yenana.
Coco Zhao
From China comes the acclaimed composer and vocalist Coco Zhao whose sound connects the unique cross-section between Chinese traditional music, western classical music and jazz. At the festival, he will present compositions from his Dream Situation album, a project of rearranged 1920s and 1930s traditional Shanghai songs reworked into a contemporary jazz framework, with the help of his touring pianist Huang Juanyi. He will be joined by special guest vocalist Asanda Mqiki, bassist Romy Brauteseth and saxophonist Mthunzi Mvubu.
King of the Xhosa
Looking to draw connections between American jazz and its African roots, New York drummer Jeff “Siege” Siegel (played with Ron Carter, Kenny Burrell, Ravi Coltrane) will bring his sextet to our shores with his latest project, King of the Xhosa intended to celebrate these roots and exchanges that have shaped the jazz tradition. Joining him is iconic South African trumpeter Feya Faku to respond and add to this conversation.
ZAR Jazz Orchestra
The Sama-winning 17-piece ZAR Jazz Orchestra, founded and directed by trumpeter Marcus Wyatt will bring together some of the best jazz players across the country. Wyatt, no stranger to the big ensemble format, has chosen these top musicians who weave in elements of traditional South African jazz with contemporary approaches. Among them are saxophonist Sisonke Xonti, pianist Bokani Dyer, drummer Marlon Witbooi and Swiss trombonist Andreas Tschopp (Skyjack).
Funk Big Band
On the subject of big ensembles, an annual signature feature of the festival is the big band, an all-star collaboration between local and international musicians, conducted by a different musician each year. This year showcases the Funk Big Band, presented by Swedish jazz legend, trombonist and composer Nils Landgren. He has been invited to Makhanda to perform for over a decade and his accolades include featuring on over 500 recordings. The mega 18-piece band includes saxophonist Shannon Mowday, bassist Shaun Johannes and Swedish trumpeter Fredrik Noren.
Nairobi Horns
Expanding to the rest of Africa, Nairobi Horns is a project that brings together musicians committed to building a sound around horns in African and contemporary music. Initially conceived off as a commercial horn section working on TV shows, the group has since grown into a live act inspired by jazz roots blending Kenyan folk with popular influences. The festival’s performance combines the four Kenyans with a strong rhythm section from South Africa, including local drummer Sphelelo Mazibuko.
Facing South and others
Brazilian maestro pianist/accordionist Guilherme Ribeiro and Dutch bassist Hein van de Geyn will join forces with Cape Town-based acoustic duo Facing South, featuring guitarist Dave Ledbetter and vocalist Amanda Tiffin. The quartet will perform selections of original material with compositions from all members included. These will feature on an upcoming album release, recorded in Cape Town.
Susanna Stivali
Wrapping up the collaborations is maestri musicista (master musician) Susanna Stivali – one of the best known Italian jazz singers of her generation. Aside from being an incredible vocalist, Stivali is also the artistic director of the Incontri Jazz Festival, a festival held in different archaeological locations across the centre of Italy. Her festival performance selects compositions from Italy, Brazil, America and South Africa, and features saxophonist Mike Rossi on sax among others.
Jazz-lovers may get their tickets from the www.nationalartsfestival.co.za.
