International Jazz Day to be celebrated in Gauteng

In South Africa, Jazz Day comes at a time when this music genre takes back its glory as a conscious music that continues to challenge practitioners and jazz lovers at a spiritual, intellectual and cultural level.

South Africa recognizes the “l” appeals of jazz, as music that transcends cultural and social barriers and for this reason a group of journalists, musicians, cultural practitioners, and music lovers are coming together on April 30 to join the global jazz music conversation.

Coming out of the deliberations of International Jazz Day (IJD) 2015,  South Africa this year, presented by the Spin Foundation in partnership with the Market Theatre, The City of Tshwane, Mogale City’s Ward 66, Soweto Lifestyle Centre, The Orbit Jazz Club and Kaya FM,  will feature another refreshing three days programme that combines a series of workshops, presentations and performances.

The theme, The Roots and Routes of South African Jazz which formed part of last year’s proceedings continues in its holistic mission and vision, which seeks to explore the roots and heritage of South African Jazz, as a way to map out its future scope and its latent opportunities.

The mandate of the 2015 deliberations which were presented at Newtown’s Market Theatre is to develop a framework of the jazz economy of South Africa, secure its heritage, promote jazz education and identify and explore new markets of distribution and exhibition through multimedia and cultural exchanges.

The activities this year have responded to these tasks at a primary level. A detailed report in this regard will be tabled during the Market Theatre’s event programme, (see details below).

The envisaged hosting of the UNESCO initiated International Jazz Day has managed to elicit a collaboration and a cooperation agreement with a few strategic partners whose role and support will be unpacked at this meeting on 30 April.

These partners serve the bidding process as requested by the UNESCO, who requires to be engaged officially, through national structures. We are pleased to report that this campaign has begun to reinforce our expression of interest to be host country of the global concert.

The Two Phased Strategy established in 2015 hinges on awareness building and mobilization of practitioners, the industry and aligning it with the community to host the global concert in the near future, as part of shaping the national agenda for a buoyant jazz economy by 2020.  The 2016 Jazz Day programme will roll out as follows:

27 April 2016: International Jazz Day Lecture

The Capital City of Tshwane will host a Lecture with Diplomats at Freedom Park. The lecture address will be presented by the renowned Dr. Sello Galane, proponent of Kiba and Malopo, whose paper will dwell on Jazz and Indigenous African Music.

This will be followed by a City of Tshwane inspired event with an apt performance showcasing the edgy Capital Arts Ensemble led by Guitarist Sibusile Xaba and Drummer Thabang Tabane exploring the work of the great 1960’s era Malombo and Phillip Tabane in today’s world.

The band comprising of leading young jazz musicians from Tshwane includes Tumi Mogorosi, and vocalist Nono Nkoane among others. 

A competition to win tickets to the event can be heard on the media partner radio station Kaya FM 95.9.

29-30 April 2016: The Soweto Lifestyle Centre on Machaba Drive

The Soweto Lifestyle Centre kicks off the programme on Friday morning with a workshop on visual and art and the opening of an exhibition by Percy Mabandu.

On Saturday, the centre will host a lifestyle market that will be supported by performances of Soweto based youth jazz bands, such as Karabo Mohlala and DJ’s Ntokozo Shezi, Muntu Vilakazi among others. This will close with a performance by legend Khaya Mahlangu. Sunday explores the culinary arts of the Eyethu Lifestyle Centre with wine pairing to the sounds of live jazz that conclude Jazz appreciation month.

30 April 2016: Mogale City Ward 66 – Jazz Picnic in the Park

Mogale City’s Ward 66 will host a Jazz picnic, an event that aims to revive its jazz audience with this exploration. There will be a jazz inspired collaboration between local youth bands supported by celebrated Jazz Djs Muzik and DJ Katzz. The idea is to explore the conditions of urban and peri- urban jazz scene while showcasing the jazz lifestyle and how this music lives within this community.

30 April 2016: The Market Theatre – The 40 years Milestone Celebration

The iconic Market Theatre will host a jazz conference reflecting on the mandate of 2015, and report on its achievements. 

This will be followed by McCoy Mrubata unveiling of his DVD, Live at the Market which was recorded on Jazz Day 2015. Nico Phooko the music painter will join the fray with a solo accompaniment by guitar maestro Masauko Chipembere of BLK Sonshine.  

Educator Carlo Mombelli will give a talk and a performance while Yonela Mnana will present his interpretation of The Roots and Routes of South African Jazz inspired by the works of our jazz icons and give a sneak preview of his new album.

The Orbit Jazz Club in Braamfontein will close the Jazz Day celebrations later, with the launch of McCoy Mrubata Live at The Market on Jazz Day 2015, followed by the resounding sextet featuring vocalists and some surprise guests who will perform Yonela Mnana’s arrangements as well as the launch of his debut album.

The club will also screen the Global Concert being held in Washington on this day.

The International Jazz Day Roots and Routes of SA Jazz Series is a bold showcase of South Africa jazz talents across the mediums of visual art, performance, jazz education and design.

Kaya FM home of the Afropolitan, will broadcast a series of interviews and unplugged music sessions promoting the International Jazz Day events and workshops.

Join the conversation by booking your space at our various events while seats are available. To Book contact the following outlets:

www.markettheatre.co.za or Computicket

www.theorbit.co.za

www.sowetolifestyle.co.za

www.jazzday.co.za

The Mogale jazz picnic tickets are sold at the venue

Contact Brenda Sisane on 0727540212 for more information