WORDS: Damian Cupido
Now in its 12th year, the much-anticipated 2011 Cape Town International Jazz Festival once again promises to thrill jazz enthusiasts with soulful ballads by top local and international artists.
“Its not a culture, it’s a lifestyle” – these are the sentiments of Billy Domingo, COO of festival organiser espAfrika, on the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF).
The spectacular event, hosted by espAfrika since its inception in 2000, runs from 25 and 26 March 2011 and is set to bring jazz lovers to a jaw-dropping, heart-palpitating standing ovation.
The mounting popularity of the CTIJF over the years has seen the festival take its rightful place among the world’s top jazz events, including the North Sea Jazz Festival in Holland. It is estimated that since jazz’s finest artists first took to the stage for the CTIJF in 2000, gracefully cradling their instruments and serenading audiences, attendee figures have risen from 14 000 to 34 000.
Performances by Regina Carter, George Benson, Rachelle Ferrell and our very own Jonathan Butler and Judith Sephuma have thrilled audiences over the years and this year, South African artists Simphiwe Dana, Lisa Bauer Quartet and the Gang of Instrumentals, to name a few, are to perform on five stages, along with US stars Christian Scott, Earth, Wind and Fire and Hubert Laws. After three years of trying to convince him to make his way to our shore, it is American saxophonist, Wayne Shorter, who festival director Rashid Lombard is particularly excited to host.
CTIJF is also committed to funding projects to uplift community development, including music workshops for children in under-privileged suburbs. “It is estimated that the CTIJF accumulated around R475 million for the Western Cape and around R685 million nationally last year,” says Domingo, emphasising that this truly is “Africa’s Grandest Gathering”.
• Tickets and packages are available through Computicket.
• Also visit www.capetownjazzfest.com
