The Cape Town International Jazz Festival has staged another coup by signing up two music luminaries for the eleventh festival on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 April.
Renowned guitarist/vocalist George Benson and United States saxophonist Charles Lloyd will share the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC) stages with headline acts announced at the end of 2009: the McCoy Tyner Trio which has saxophonist Gary Bartz as a guest; violinist Regina Carter in her exploration of the music of the African Diaspora with her Reverse Thread project; the high register-hitting vocalist Rachelle Ferrell, the older statesman of jazz Toots Thielemans and our own Jonathan Butler who brings with him US trumpeter Rick Braun and Scottish-born saxophonist Richard Elliot as guests.
Known for his splendid and spectacular live performances, Benson will appear, on both nights of the two-day festival, on the main Kippies stage.
The Rosies stage will feature the Charles Lloyd New Quartet. Formed in 2007, Lloyd’s new group with pianist Jason Moran, bassist Reuben Rogers, and drummer Eric Harland has made waves with its pristine and beautiful music.
Lloyd who turns 72 in March has a huge fan base in South Africa and jazz appreciation clubs in the country’s townships regularly play his music. His appearance in Cape Town will be a platform for him to connect with followers of his music.
As in previous years, the 40 bands who are part of this year’s bill of artists will share five different stages – Kippies as the main stage of the festival; Moses Molelekwa stage for less known but very talented musicians; Basil “Manenberg” Coetzee stage for those that specialise in fusion and other experimental music; Bassline for contemporary jazz-related contemporary style such as hip-hop and kwaito; and the Rosies stage reserved for more acoustic sounds.
Ticket prices for the 2010 festival are: R330 for single day pass and a two-day weekend pass is R485. As in previous years, there will be an extra fee of R25 per act for patrons wishing to attend concerts on the Rosies stage. Tickets are available at Computicket and Shoprite-Checkers stores.
For more information go to:www.capetownjazzfest.com
