The 5th South African Association for Jazz Education (SAJE) jazz festival takes place from Friday April 28 to Sunday April 30 at the Reeler Theatre, Rondebosch Boys’ High School, Canigou Avenue, Rondebosch.
The line-up includes the Bokani Dyer Trio featuring pianist Bokani Dye; bassist Romy Brauteseth and drummer Sphelelo Mazibuko; bassist Carlo Mombelli and pianist Kyle Shepherd; guitarist Mageshen Naidoo and pianist Roland Moses; vocalist Amanda Tiffin and guitarist David Ledbetter; the UCT Jazz Voices, and the UCT Big Band conducted by Mike Rossi. International guests include guitarist Roberto Zechini from Italy; trumpeter Gordon Vernick from America and accordionist Guilherme Ribeiro from Brazil.
The 5th SAJE Jazz Festival is open to everyone and there will also be workshops on Saturday April 29 which will include topics such as effective use of smart phones and ipads in music education; a vocal workshop by Nicky Schrire; a bass workshop by Carlo Mombelli; a workshop on South African jazz by pianist Bokani Dyer; and a workshop on pedals and effects, Brazilian music and Brass. Financial assistance is available for those wanting to attend the workshops.
There will be a free lunch-hour concert on Saturday featuring three visiting Italian jazz musicians and two South African jazz musicians who spent time studying in Italy in 2015 and 2016. This forms part of an ongoing SAJE cultural exchange project between Arcevia, Italy and Cape Town.
International Jazz Day will be celebrated on Sunday April 30 and is the culmination of Jazz Appreciation Month (fondly known as JAM), which draws public attention to jazz and its heritage.
The SAJE is a non-profit organisation and since 1992 has made it a mission to grow jazz in South Africa and develop jazz and jazz education in urban and rural areas. The festival is a biennial event focusing on performance, workshops, jazz education, skills and audience development. It offers a forum for musicians, academics, educators and teachers, jazz fans, students and pupils to engage with the latest sounds and ideas in jazz.
Along with workshops, performances and industry displays, there will be opportunities for discussion, information exchange, and networking.
Concert tickets cost R100 or R60 for students and pensioners and are available through www.quicket.co.za or at the door. Workshops cost R120 for the day or R30 per workshop.
To register for any of the workshops, email sajejazz@gmail.com or pay at the door.
Call the office at 021 685 6846 for more information.