31 Mar 2009 Artists: 340ml, Abigail Kubeka, Al Foster Quartet, Arturo Lledo, Cape Town Jazz Orchestra,  Dave Liebman Group, Dianne Reeves, Emily Bruce, Carlo Mombelli & Prisoners of Strange, Freshlyground, Goldfish, Hugh Masekela, Incognito, Jonathan Butler/Dave Koz Collaboration, Jonathan Rubain, Kyle Eastwood, Kyle Shepherd, Loading Zone, Maceo Parker, Magic Malik, Maurice Gawronsky, McCoy Mrubata & Special Friends, Mike del Ferro/Sibongile Khumalo/Shannon Mowday Collaboration, Mos Def feat The Robert Glasper Experiment, Napalma, Ndumiso Nyovane, New York Voices, Pete Philly & Perquisite, Peter White, Dr Phillip Tabane, Ringo Madlingozi, The Robert Glasper Experiment, Rus Nerwich’s collective imagination, Shakatak,  Siphokazi, Southpaw, Stewart Sekuma, The Stylistics and Zap Mama.

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340ml (Mozambique) describes their music as “Southern African contemporary sounds”. The four band members have worked hard to fuse reggae inflections with dub, ska, Latin and Mozambican marrabenta music. Although now based in South Africa, the quartet keeps their music rooted in the sounds that they heard when they grew up in Maputo.

Abigail Kubeka (RSA) has shared the stage with great singers such as Sarah Vaughn and Eartha Kitt. After joining at the age of 16 the all-female vocal group Skylarks led by Miriam Makeba in 1957, Kubeka has remained one of the most revered vocalists in South Africa. She has worked in settings that stretch from jazz to cabaret. In addition to her singing abilities, the 67-year old artist has appeared in numerous films and theatre productions. Recently, Kubeka received the Order of Ikhamanga – the highest arts award in South Africa – in silver.

Al Foster Quartet (US): When Jack De Johnette left the Miles Davis band in 1972, Al Foster replaced him. This association continued until Miles’ death in 1991. These days, Foster leads his own quartet. His 2008 album Love, Peace and Jazz displays the perceptive drumming that blew Miles thirty-six years ago.

Arturo Lledo (Spain):  Spanish guitarist who spent 14 of his formative years as a musician in Brazil. His familiarity with both Spanish and Brazilian music makes him capable to play anything from beautiful boleros to samba and bossa nova.  

Cape Town Jazz Orchestra (RSA) is the first professional and city-wide jazz orchestra in post-apartheid South Africa. The 16-piece unit is a brainchild of the legendary pianist Abdullah Ibrahim. With the support from the Department of Arts and Culture (DAC) and under the baton of guitarist Alvin Dyers, the orchestra has the best of the Mother City’s young jazz talent.

Carlo Mombelli & Prisoners of Strange (RSA) is a quartet constituted by bassist Carlo Mombelli, trumpeter Marcus Wyatt, drummer Lloyd Martin and trombonist/vocalist Siya Makuzeni. Having produced two CD’s as a unit, the group has garnered around Gauteng support for their experimental form of jazz.

Dave Liebman Group (US): As a disciple of John Coltrane and Miles Davis, Liebman appreciates the value of having a working band to express one’s musical feelings. Since 1991, the 62-year old saxophonist has played with guitarist Vic Juris, bassist Tony Marino and drummer Marko Marcinko. The group’s recordings mirror Liebman’s varied musical idioms and the band’s abundant energy.

Dianne Reeves (US): Dianne Reeves is the only vocalist to win Grammy Awards in the Best Jazz Vocal Performance category for three consecutive recordings. She scooped these for her 2001 In the Moment, 2002 The Calling: Celebrating Sarah Vaughn and 2003 A Little Moonlight.  No wonder that she is regarded as the premier vocalist in the world today.

Emily Bruce (RSA): Cape Town-based vocalist Emily Bruce is taking the local jazz scene by storm. Her March 2007 debut album This Love We Share was well-received. In her short career, the singer who graduated from the University of Cape Town where she studied music, has lived and performed in Turkey and Dubai.   

Freshlyground (RSA): The seven-member outfit has come to represent what the new South Africa is all about. Not only is the band cosmopolitan in composition of its members, Freshlyground fuses various musical styles lacing familiar instruments like drums, keyboard, guitar and saxophone with sounds of violin and mbira.

Goldfish (RSA) is a duo by accomplished young jazz musicians – Dominic Peters and David Poole. Known as “Fishies” to their followers, the group is a platform where the two experiment with the use of live instrumentation together with synthesisers and samplers to produce danceable electronica music. With two albums and an itinerary that has taken them to Spain, Japan, Saudi Arabia and France, the “Fishies” have become real magnet around Cape Town.

Hugh Masekela (RSA): Few local musicians do as Masekela does in taking South African music to the rest of the world. A member of the first jazz band to record an LP, Masekela consciously decided to focus during his exile on familiarising foreign audiences to local sounds. Since his return, this mission has not stopped. The 69-year old trumpeter travels and performance all over the world.

Incognito (UK): Since the release of its debut album Jazz Funk in 1981, the band Incognito has remained on the cutting edge of dance music. Formed in the era of disco and funk, the group evolved and was in the forefront of acid jazz in the 1990s. The group’s latest CD Tales from the Beach was recorded in three countries; a testimony to the multiculturalism of the band.

Jonathan Butler/Dave Koz Collaboration (RSA/US) will prove to be the highlight of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2009. The South African guitarist and US saxophonist are renowned for their sweet and smooth jazz sounds. Butler regularly collaborates with the saxophonist. Koz was a guest in Butler’s 2005 CD, Jonathan. In December last year, the two appeared in concerts dubbed Dave Koz & Friends: A Smooth Jazz Christmas.

Jonathan Rubain (RSA): Jonathan Rubain is another gem to come out of the Cape Flats. Starting with drums and lead guitar, Rubain fell in love with the sound of the bass at the age of 15. Now at the age of 24, he leads his a band that plays sounds that the bassist grew up listening to such as ghoema, jazz and church music.

Kyle Eastwood (US): Film star Clint Eastwood has transmitted his love of jazz to his bassist son, Kyle. In addition to producing three albums as a bandleader, Kyle has contributed film scores for movies such as The Rookie, Mystic River and Flags for our Fathers. In 2006, he was also nominated by the Chicago Film Critics Association for the original score for Letters from Iwo Jima.

Kyle Shepherd (RSA) describes himself as creative artist. This is no self-aggrandisement. In addition to being a musician, Kyle is a poet and a composer of note. He composed ten out of eleven tunes in his debut album, fineART, launched in January this year. Kyle is comfortable when he is behind a piano, alto saxophone and percussions.

Loading Zone (RSA): Few bands can claim to have backed legendaries such as Miriam Makeba, Papa Wemba and Brenda Fassie. Loading Zone can. Formed in Johannesburg in 1989, the energetic group is a platform for fuse jazz South African, Mozambican and Brazilian rhythms. The core of the band hails from these three countries

Maceo Parker (US): Besides his work as a sideman of James Brown, the saxophonist is known in these shores for his solo album Roots Revisited. Although released in the early 1990s, Parker’s fusion of soul and funk has made the album the anthem of many jazz stokvels in South Africa.

Magic Malik (France) was born in Ivory Coast and grew up in Guadeloupe. In 1986, he moved to France where he is currently based to study at the Music Academy of Marseille. Among numerous collaborations, the flautist has worked with alto saxophonist Steve Coleman, nu-jazz band St. Germain and Buena Vista Social Club. Although he works in settings as varied such as jazz and house, his warm flute sound is distinctive.

Maurice Gawronsky Quartet (RSA): Born in Cape Town in 1937, Gawronsky is one of South Africa’s most accomplished drummers. In a career that spans more than 50-years, the drummer who is known for his propulsive beats has played with the cream of the local jazz scene. Earlier in his career, Gawronsky was based in Europe where he performed with Don Byas, Oscar Pettiford and Stan Getz.

McCoy Mrubata & Special Friends (RSA) is a band put together to celebrate the award-winning saxophonist’s fiftieth birthday. The special friends are pianist Paul Hanmer, bassist Herbie Tsoaeli, drummer Kesivan Naidoo and trumpeter Marcus Wyatt. Although McCoy promises material specially written for the occasion, he will also perform material that has made him a regular collector of South African Music Awards (SAMA) in the traditional jazz category.

Mike del Ferro/Sibongile Khumalo/Shannon Mowday Collaboration (Netherlands/RSA) has its roots in the 2007 Cape Town International Jazz Festival where Khumalo performed with drummer Jack de Johnette. The US drummer is a longtime acquaintance of Dutch pianist Mike del Ferro. In July 2008, del Ferro, Khumalo and Mowday brought down the house at the National Arts Festival in a show called “Jazz meets Opera”.

Mos Def feat the Robert Glasper Experiment (US) emerged as the real mover in the 1990’s underground hip-hop revolution. With three albums under his belt Mos Def (MOSt DEFinitely) is part of a movement to return rap to its roots as a form of social commentary. A star in whatever he does, Mos Def has collected two Grammy nominations for his “Sex, Love and Money” single and his 2007 True Magic album. He has also won numerous awards in his acting career.

Napalma (Brazil) was established in Vitoria, Espirito Santo in Brazil with an expressed aim to create a fever where everyone wants to get onto the dancefloor. Based now in South Africa, Napalma is made up of Ivo Maia on vocals; Rafael Jabah on electronic programming and percussion; and Cid Travaglia on djembe and electronic percussion.

Ndumiso Nyovane (RSA) is a trumpeter from Soweto. He cut his teeth with Sipho “Hotstix” Mabuse’s Harare band. He was also a member of Lucky Dube’s reggae band, Slaves. Since then, Ndumiso has led his own group; recording his debut album Mofolo Hall (Akulalwa) in 2001. He combines mbaqanga with strong African jazz grooves.

New York Voices (US): Together with groups such as the Manhattan Transfer and Take 6, the New York Voices are heirs of doo-wop and Barbershop music that was popular in the 1950s. Like all a cappella groups they are a small ensemble that produces music without instrumental backing.

Pete Philly & Perquisite Live Band (Netherlands), existing of Pete Philly (vocals)  and Perquisite (beats, cello) is an  MC/producer-duo from Amsterdam, The Netherlands . Live they play together with a DJ, bassist, saxophonist and keyboardist. Their mission is to “bring analog sound back in times of plastic”. In existence for five years, the group has widened the boundaries of hip-hop with injection of jazz, soul and world music, two award winning albums and steaming live performances all over the globe.

Peter White (UK): Peter White describes himself as a smooth jazz guitarist. After he played with Al Stewart and singer Basia, White switched to jazz in the 1990s. Since then he has played and performed with people like Bob James, Jeffrey Osborne and our own Jonathan Butler. His vamps and guitar-picking are phenomenal.

Dr Phillip Tabane (RSA) is the country’s leading guitarist and a recipient of the South Africa Music Awards (SAMA) Lifetime Achievement Prize. He is well-known for his work with his band Malombo which he established in 1964. The group was one of the country’s first bands to perform at the Newport Jazz Festival. When he toured the US, Tabane shared stages with Charles Mingus and Miles Davis. These days, the 63 year old guitarist performs with his sons Thabong and Mphunye Motau

Ringo Madlingozi (RSA): South Africa’s master balladeer sings about issues around him – love, abuse, kindness and forgiveness. Since his 1996 debut album, Madlingozi who sings mainly in IsiXhosa has garnered support here and abroad. He has won numerous awards and the majority of his African pop records have reached platinum status.  

Robert Glasper & The RCDC Experiment (US) is a band made up of pianist Robert Glasper, drummer Chris Dave, guitarist Derrick Hodge and saxophonist/keyboardist Casey Benjamin. While each of them leads his own jazz band, the quartet formed The RCBC Experiment to create a futuristic sound that fuses hip-hop, soul and funk with solid jazz foundations.

Rus Nerwich – and the collective imagination (RSA): One of the country’s innovative musician, Nerwich’s first three recordings were jazz albums. Recently, the Cape Town saxophonist has worked with Congolese musicians who are refugees in South Africa. He is also experimenting with fusion of jazz and hip-hop.

Shakatak (UK) is known for its danceable jazz-funk music. Formed in 1980, the group has demonstrated real staying power. its 1980’s hits like “Mr Manic & Sister Cool”, “Down on the Street” and “Watching You” remaining up to this day hot club favourites.
 
Siphokazi (RSA) hit the music industry’s ground running. Her 2006 Afro-soul debut album Ubuntu Bam got her two South African Musician Awards (SAMA) and it also scooped three prizes in the Metro FM awards in 2007. She is back with her sophomore album Ndinovuyo which has received critical acclaim.

Southpaw (RSA) is a band of four left-handed musicians. In front are two brothers – Stephan and Daniel Roach. The two guitarists/vocalists learnt their art from their father who was a pop and folk guitar-player. Since they formed Southpaw, with other musicians, the quartet has been in demand around Cape Town, performing in major events in the city.

Stewart Sekuma (Mozambique) combines traditional and contemporary sounds of his country to produce danceable Afro-pop. The guitarist sings in Portuguese, English and six vernacular Mozambican languages. His latest and 2007 album Nkhuvu features Jimmy Dludlu, Lokua Kanza, Bonga and Artur Maia.

The Stylistics (US): For more than 40-years, the Stylistics together with the O’Jays and Spinners have been the vanguard of a musical style known as Philadelphia. Rooted in soul music and using choreographed dance moves, the four male vocalists have belted out hits such as “You Are Everything” and “People Make the World Go Around”; that remain popular in local “quiet storm” radio programmes.

Zap Mama: Zap Mama is the Grammy-award winning group founded and fronted by Marie Daulne. Since the early 1990’s, Marie has spent her life crossing continents and winning the hearts of thousands of fans, while introducing her ‘Afropean’ musical heritage to the world and uniting musical cultures through the wonders of voice, music and dynamic performance. Zap Mama is currently recording her seventh album due out on Heads Up International in May 09. The album features artists G. Love, Bilal, and Vincent Cassell, and was mixed by Russ Elevado (D’Angelo, Erykah Badu).