Free concert on Greenmarket Square!

It's a tradition that Capetonians have come to look forward to. The Cape Town International Jazz Festival ‘Free Community Concert'.

espAFRIKA, the organisers of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival has staged this free concert for the people of Cape Town a day or so prior to the main festival. This year it will again be held in the lovely confines of Greenmarket Square, in the heart of the city, and it will take place on Wednesday 01 April 2009, from 5 pm till 10 pm.

The free concert offers a great evening of jazz and jazz fusions for all those Cape Town music fans who may not be able to attend the two nights at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, as well as those fans who do have tickets but still wouldn't miss this annual festival ‘warm-up'.

As the free concert starts at 17h00, it will encourage many city workers to remain in the city after work that day, avoiding that heavy homeward-bound traffic. They will join many music fans who will be coming into the city to experience the vibe of the CTIJF in the Square with its many busy pubs, restaurants, and hotels, and some great jazz echoing off the surrounding historic buildings.

The artists appearing at this year's concert will be, The Incredibles, Nomfusi, Claire Phillips, Pete Philly and Perquisite and The Stylistics. It promises to be a diverse, exciting and entertaining bill.

Each artist will perform for approximately 30 minutes, and the show is expected to finish at 10 pm.

The Incredibles

The Incredibles Brass was formed in 2005 Ezra Ngcukana who is passionate about developing the youth In the Nyanga East location where all the band members come from. The group started with six Horn players, 3 Trumpeters 2 Trombonists as well as Roy himself on Trumpet. Incredibles Brass has played many gigs without a rhythm section, playing mostly Afro Jazz which includes the 'Umbhaqanga' style. They have been invited by well-known professional bands such as Little Giants and Bra Cups Big Band to perform together, giving them the opportunity of experiencing playing with a rhythm section. Now a group of 9 musicians they have their own a rhythm section.

Claire Phillips a vocalist & songwriter Claire Phillips is Cape Town's newest discovery. Hailing from the suburb of Belhar, she began singing as a toddler, and soon learned guitar. Her first forays onto the professional stage were as a cover artist, but she opted to build her own repertoire, and completed her debut album during 2006 for the independent label, MOM Entertainment. The album was recorded in Joburg, produced by fellow Capetonian Patrick "Caramel" Hickey. The final mix was completed back home in Cape Town.

During 2006, she attained standing ovations, when her trio opened for Freshlyground at Joburg's Baseline. She has also won a steady following in her home city, Cape Town, with regular performances at venues such as Zula Bar. In February 2007, she was listed at the top of the charts of Cape Town's Heart FM radio station.

Further acknowledgement for the young performer and songwriter came in the form of an SA Music Award ("SAMA") nomination for "Best R&B/Soul Album" during 2007. Her debut album "Say My Name" went on to win the category at the 13th annual SAMA Awards.

Nomfusi and the Lucky Charms: is a budding Afro-soul superstar from Khayelitsha that is causing an explosion in the South African media and live music circuit. With an incredibly powerful voice, rare physical beauty and electrifying stage presence, Nomfusi is ready to take on the world with her 6-piece township band. Her music has a distinctive African flavour fused with 60's rock, motown, R & B and gospel. Siphokazi and the late Miriam Makeba, as well as Western songwriters like Robin Thicke and Mary J. Blige inform the style of her songwriting, while she has the vocal ability and stage persona of power house singers like Whitney Houston and Tina Turner. Her lyrics are soulful, strong and outspoken, written in the language of her people. With a voice and a personality that transcend borders, she is guaranteed to attract world wide appeal. Nomfusi's gigantic voice, tangible charm and incredible life story have courted the attention of all the major music role players in South Africa. Carving out a solid circuit for her engrossing live performances, she is enjoying a rapidly growing local following, securing stellar success for her forthcoming album, "Kwazibani/Who knows?"

Being such an inspiring example of the will to survive amidst unfathomable adversity, she bears a strong message of hope to not only South Africans, but a world in crisis. She could soon have a global audience at her feet. Who knows?

Pete Philly & Perquisite - Pete Philly (vocals) and Perquisite (beats, cello) are a duo from Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Live they play together with a DJ, bassist, saxophonist and keyboardist. Their mission is to "bring analog sound back in times of plastic". In existence for five years, the group has widened the boundaries of hip-hop with injection of jazz, soul and world music, two award winning albums and steaming live performances all over the globe.

The Stylistics For more than 40-years, the Stylistics together with the O'Jays and Spinners have been the vanguard of a musical style known as Philadelphia. Rooted in soul music and using choreographed dance moves, the four male vocalists have belted out hits such as "You Are Everything" and "People Make the World Go Around"; that remain popular in local "quiet storm" radio programmes.

special trains:

A huge bonus for those travelling to town by train is that SARCC Metrorail, will be operating three special trains departing Cape Town Station at 10:30 pm.

All Jazz lovers travelling by train to Cape Town on Wednesday 1st April 2009 are to make use of the existing normal Metrorail train service on the forward journeys.

Special trains for such persons have been scheduled for the return journeys after the event, and are reflected below.

Buy 1 get one free (Buy a single ticket, get a return ticket free). Concert goers can purchase train tickets to Cape Town only at any station from 2 pm onwards on the day of the concert.

Customers in possession of valid weekly and monthly tickets (destination Cape Town), can use their existing tickets for the return journey.

CAPE FLATS LINE
TRAIN 0405 (STOPPING ALL STATIONS)

Cape Town (via Cape Flats) D: 23:00 (Platform 15)
Heathfield A: 23:40
CENTRAL LINE
TRAIN 0409 (STOPPING ALL STATIONS)

Cape Town (via Pinelands) D: 23:10 (Platform 17)

Kapteinsklip A: 00:01

NORTHERN LINE
TRAIN 0413 (STOPPING ALL STATIONS)

Cape Town (via Maitland) D: 23:05 (Platform 9)

Bellville A: 23:41

 

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