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Weekend passes to the Cape Town International Jazz Festival sold out quickly as thousands booked their places at “Africa’s grandest gathering”. The line-up is impressive and generous. Navigating what’s on offer always requires focus and planning. To help you, we’ve rounded up the shows you can’t afford to miss.
Legendary ladies in song
As part of their current national tour, living legends Dorothy Masuka (pictured) and Abigail Kubeka have created a show especially for the festival this year, titled Legendary Ladies in Song. Kubeka and Masuka will be joined by Lemmy “Special” Mabaso.
On the Kippies Stage on Friday at 10pm
Angie Stone
Grammy-nominated singer and keyboardist Stone is one of the highlights this year. One of the queens of neosoul, Stone will entertain with popular hits Wish I Didn’t Miss You, No More Rain (In This Cloud), and Brotha. Her album Dreams was released in November 2015 and she will no doubt perform music from that too. She is a must-see for all neosoul lovers.
On the Kippies Stage on Friday at 11.45pm
SWV
US R&B group Sisters With Voices, otherwise known as SWV, are one of a handful of groups that were big in the 90s and are still performing and touring. Coko (Cheryl Gamble), Taj (Tamara Johnson) and Lelee (Leanne Lyons) are school friends who learnt to harmonise in church. After a 15-year hiatus pursuing solo careers, the trio are now better than ever. Their 2012 reunion album was followed by a new studio album late last year. They’ve stayed true to that old school R&B sound.
On the Basil “Manenberg” Coetzee Stage late on Friday at 12.15am
Nduduzo Makhathini’s Listening to the Ground featuring Eddie Parker
2015 Standard Bank Young Artist Award for Jazz winner Makhathini (pictured) brings his experimental and deeply spiritual style of jazz to this year’s festival. The pianist’s show is named after his third album and will feature multi-instrumentalist flautist and composer Eddie Parker from the UK.
On the Rosies Stage on Friday at 12.30am
Mafikizolo and Tshepo Tshola
The award-winning Afro-pop group, whose music is a must at any wedding, brings a special performance with the legendary ‘Village Pope’, Tsepo Tshola, whose special storytelling and lyricism is always a treat.
On the Kippies Stage on Friday at 8.45pm
Meshell Ndegeocello
She writes the music, sings the songs and leads the band. The 10-time Grammy-nominated US rapper, bassist and vocalist’s fans always expect the unexpected. Ndegeocello has journeyed into soul, spoken word, R&B, jazz, hip-hop, rock, go-go, new wave and punk. She explores love, justice, respect, resolution and happiness and was the first woman on the cover of Bass Player magazine.
On the Basil “Manenberg” Coetzee Stage late on Saturday at 12.15am
Bokani Dyer
This multitalented Botswana-born South African award winner is a pianist, composer and producer whose dynamic compositions and performances have given African jazz a new home on the world stage. Dyer has performed sold-out shows in other parts of the world and returns home for a show named after his 12-track album World Music, an appreciation of all types of music.
On the Rosies Stage on Saturday at 8.30pm
Weekend passes for the festival may be sold out, but individual day passes were still available at the time of going to press from computicket.com. Vist
