Additional acts announced for the Cape Town International Jazz Festival

Jazz musicians of local and international acclaim are set to wow audiences

* will be updated soon

The key to the success of Cape Town International Jazz Festival is in its programming. In addition to 40 bands on five stages over two days, festival organisers have put together concept bands for 2011. The bands will include 19 additional artists of local and national acclaim.

Jack van Poll
Jack van Poll was born in 1934 in the Netherlands and began piano lessons at the age of four. He has performed at many international jazz festivals and, apart from playing piano and tenor sax, he composes and writes lyrics.

James Scholfield
Born in Manchester, England, James moved to South Africa during his childhood. James's music is deeply rooted in Cape tradition, on the edge and, above all, original.

Hein van de Geyn
Born on 18th July 1956, Hein is a jazz bassist, composer and band leader from the Netherlands. He is a critically acclaimed artist and performer, appearing on many jazz records. He also has his own group, Bassline.

Hugh Masekela and Larry Willis
Joined by pianist Larry Willis, bassist Victor Masondo and drummer Lee-Roy Sauls, our very own Hugh Masekela will play music that inspired him to record Almost Like Being in Jazz.

Video: Jack Van Poll and Hein van de Geyn, and Hugh Masekele



Guitafrika
Guitafrika is a unique collaboration by three African guitarists: South Africa's Steve Newman, Eric Triton from Mauritius and Alhousseini Mohamed Anivolla from Niger. In addition to showcasing different guitar-playing styles in the continent, the three musicians will celebrate the history and role of guitars in African music.

The Cape Town Tribute Band
Formed, under the musical directorship of Alvin Dyers, the band pays tribute to artists including Winston Mankunku. Joining Dyers in the third "concept band" is pianist Nick Williams, bassist Wesley Rustin and drummer Denver Furness. Guests include saxophonist Buddy Wells, pianist Mike Perry, guitarist Errol Dyers, trumpeter Ian Smith and singer Sylvia Mdunyelwa.

Conversations
Conversations consists of bassist Victor Masondo and Johannesburg-based trumpeter/conductor Prince Lengoasa, drummer Kevin Gibson, pianist Mark Fransman and saxophonist Donvino Prins.

Chieli Minucci
Unlike in 2009 when Minucci appeared as a guest in Lao Tizer’s band when he performed in Johannesburg, the award-winning artist brings to Cape Town his Grammy-nominated jazz-fusion group, Special EFX.

Chuck Loeb
Born in New York, Chuck is a guitarist who performs numerous styles of music, but his solo projects have been commercially successful crossover jazz. He will be joined on stage by Spanish vocalist Carmen Cuesta.

Videos: Chieleli Minucci and Special EFX, and Chuck Loeb

 

Cindy Blackman
Born in 1959 in Yellow Springs Ohio, Cindy is an American Jazz and rock drummer best known for recording and touring with Lenny Kravitz. Blackman will pay a tribute with Felix Pastorius, son of the late Jaco Pastorius, accompanied by drum machine and pioneer of jazz-rock fusion, Tony Williams.

BeBe Winans
Detroit vocalist Bebe is a real performer; comfortable in both gospel and RnB.

Videos: Cindy Blackman and BeBe Winans

 

Other artists added onto the list are: South African pianist and producer Don Laka; Berlin-based nu-jazz group Jazzanova that features US vocalist/bassist Paul Randolph; leading South African trumpet-player Feya Faku; live house band Tortured Soul from Boston; Mozambican saxophonist Naima McLean; Songbook – a band led by a South African young and promising trumpet-player Lwanda Gogwana; local student group Sekunjalo Records – Chad Saaiman, Mathew Moolman and Lloyd Jansen.

By Lisa Nevitt

Read about the Cape Town International Jazz Festival's headliners.

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