Giant Step for South African jazz as Abdullah Ibrahim prepares to perform with the New South African Orchestra along with seven very special guests.
South African jazz is poised to take a Giant Step forward when internationally-renowned pianist, composer and band leader, Abdullah Ibrahim, performs with the newly created New South African Orchestra (NSAO) along with several very special guests.
This must-see live event takes place on Saturday February 27 at the Johannesburg City Hall, marking the first time in many years that this venue in the heart of the city comes alive to the sounds of world-class music and only the second time Ibrahim has played within its walls.
Cleave Guyton, Belden Bullock and George Gray - a trio of New York City-based musicians who regularly perform with Ibrahim as part of Ekaya - are among the special musical guests along with highly-regarded South African players, Khaya Mahlangu, Feya Faku and Barney Rachabane.
Ibrahim oversaw the birth of the New South African Orchestra in 2009, with the support of the Department of Arts and Culture. With Ibrahim as the NSAO's convener, the musicians who will be taking to the stage on February 27 were discovered during auditions held in Johannesburg in October 2009.
Already the combination of established, globally-renowned musicians with rising talent has been experienced by a privileged few who attended a late 2009 live show at the Market Theatre.
"A pianist and tenor sax player in particular took on the challenge of playing John Coltrane's ‘Giant Steps' which is widely considered one of the most challenging compositions to improvise on," Ibrahim reveals. "But on that night, the players gave those lucky enough to be in the audience brilliant solos that showed a grasp of the song you don't often see. It nearly brought me to tears."
Now South African jazz lovers can experience the unfolding of that magic with ‘Abdullah Ibrahim presents The New South African Orchestra (NSAO): Tradition & Giant Steps Ahead'. Says Ibrahim, "I was so inspired by that Sunday night show in 2009 that I named the NSAO ‘Tradition and Giant Steps Ahead'."
The February concert features vibrant, new South African talent who now form part of one of the NSAO's incarnations -Morolong. Featuring players adept in sax, flute, clarinet, trumpet, trombone, piano, bass, drums, guitar and percussion, Morolong is based around the Big Band tradition and is dedicated to Kippie Moeketsi.
In a double boon for music fans, a single ticket to the 8pm full-scale show (featuring Ibrahim, Guyton, Bullock, Gray, Mahlangu, Faku and Rachabane) on February 27 also gives entrance to a matinee performance of new members of the NSAO. "We've been waiting for this generation for a long time," says Ibrahim of the chance to see some of South Africa's most gifted young players in action during the matinee show as well as during the main event.
The February 27 concerts are being staged with the support of the Gauteng Legislature and its speaker, Lindiwe Maseko, further underscoring the value placed by national (through the DAC) and provincial government on this unique project.
Over the coming months, Ibrahim and his team will be auditioning for additional members of the NSAO - again with the support of the DAC. Alongside ‘Morolong' will come the Philharmonic Orchestra (Pesheya), Bright Young Innovators (Briaat), Senior Citizens Band (Tookah), and Marching Band/Drumline (Pow-aah). Ibrahim, assisted by Cleave Guyton, will conduct workshops and auditions as part of this during his February visit to South Africa. These take place in Cape Town on February 21 and in Port Elizabeth on February 23.
Tickets are now available from Computicket and Shoprite and cost R200 (including a 3pm "young talent" matinee and 8pm concert).
For information on the Cape Town and Port Elizabeth auditions and workshops please contact Mandla Baloyi on 082 355 1207.
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