Al Jarreau is the best known jazz musician who will perform at the 16th Cape Town International Jazz Festival, which will be held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre tomorrow and on Saturday. The event, described as ‘Africa’s Grandest Gathering’, is an event that will attract about 37000 local and international jazz lovers to Cape Town. From a Jazz Festival initially, the event has grown into a ‘premier lifestyle festival’, contributing about R500 million to the economy of Cape Town!
With more than 40 jazz musicians performing on five stages at the Convention Centre over two evenings, jazz lovers can look forward to hearing artists such as Jarreau, Basia Trzetrzelewska (who achieved fame in the ‘Eighties when singing with Matt Bianco), Beatenberg, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Sipho ‘Hotstix’ Mabuse, Prophets of da City, Hugh Masekela, Gavin Minter Septet, and Melanie Scholtz. Currently composed of a mix of 50% local and 50% international performers, Jazz Festival Director Billy Domingo said that they are aiming to push the local performer content to 85% in future, ‘because we can’, he said!
The 2015 International Jazz Festival was inaugurated with a free concert on Greenmarket Square last night, at which
Beatenberg, Hugh Masekela, Zoë Modiga, and the All Stars Band performed. Even Western Cape Premier Helen Zille got into the jazz spirit by singing on the stage. She said about the Jazz Festival: ‘The festival has become one of the main events in the City’s Calendar. It’s a great opportunity to experience our rich diversity in the arts & music. I want to encourage everyone to take this opportunity to attend & share in this experience’.
We have seen the growing impact of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival on tourism in Cape Town, with accommodation for this weekend close to sold out, with a resultant impact on restaurant and car rental bookings too.
Cape Town International Jazz Festival, 27 and 28 March 2015. Cape Town International Convention Centre. Tel (021) 671-8716 www.capetownjazzfest.com Twitter: @CTJazzFest Tickets at Computicket: R860 weekend pass, R530 day pass.
Chris von Ulmenstein, Whale Cottage Portfolio: www.whalecottage.com Tel (021) 433-2100, Twitter:@WhaleCottage Facebook: click here
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