The 10th annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival will be held April 3 to 4 in Cape Town, South Africa. The festival attracted 33,500 people in 2008. This year it will present 40 bands on five stages over two days, half African and half international. Over the years the festival has evolved into something more than a musical event. In addition to the music workshops and clinics that take place during the festival, most attendees revel in the whole experience of coming to and being in the beautiful city of Cape Town. In its programming, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival creates a platform where jazz sits comfortably with other related genres such as Afro-pop, soul, funk, blues, Latin and hip-hop. Headliners for 2009 will include award-winning jazz vocalist Dianne Reeves, jazz-funk king Maceo Parker and smooth jazz guitarist Peter White. Legendary South African trumpeter Hugh Masekela will join the three as a headline act. His appearance at the festival forms part of his 70th birthday celebrations.

Those who prefer straight-ahead jazz sounds can look forward to John Coltrane’s disciple Dave Liebman, Miles Davis’ drummer Al Foster, the a cappella group New York Voices, local veteran drummer Maurice Gawronsky Quartet and Clint Eastwood’s son, bassist Kyle Eastwood. To expose local talent, festival organizers have contracted vocalist Emily Bruce and bassist Jonathan Rubain, both from Cape Town. One of the trademarks of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival is to honor iconic groups, as well as young African musicians who are making it big internationally. To be honored in 2009 for their staying power are The Stylistics, whose sound dates back to 1968; acid-jazz group Incognito; and Loading Zone, a Cape Town-based group that celebrates their 20th anniversary in 2009. As for bands that currently hold the African flag high, there is a cappella quintet Zap Mama, South African master balladeer Ringo Madlingozi, indomitable Freshlyground and Rus Nerwich’s collective imagination.

Ticket prices for the 2009 festival are as follows: single-day passes will be 330 rand and full weekend passes will be 485 rand. As in previous years, there will be an extra fee of 25 rand per artist for patrons wishing to attend concerts on the Rosie’s stage. Current exchange rates are approximately $1 = 10 rand. For more information on the Cape Town Jazz Festival, including artist bios, visit www.capetownjazzfest.com.  For more information on South Africa, visit www.southafrica.net.
 

  March 27, 2009 - FROM THE NETS WEBSITE

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 There will be a half-time concert by the legendary Stylistics, and Sensible Portions snacks will be given away after the game.