CINDY BLACKMAN QUARTET

When I heard that drummer Cindy Blackman was going to be in town, I bought my ticket to go see her perform, within the next few hours. This was one act that I was not going to miss.

The Cindy Blackman Quartet performed as part of the music happenings of the PAN AFRICAN SPACE STATION. The quartet featuring Cindy on drums, Antione Roney(tenor saxophone); Carlton Holmes (piano/fender rhodes); George Mitchell (bass) had two stunning performances on 1 October 2008 and 3 October 2008 at the Slave Church Museum in Long Street, Cape Town. If it was not for another "had to attend" music event (Marimba Extravaganza), I probably would have attended both her performances.

Cindy is well known for touring and recording with Lenny Kravitz, but these two performances were very appreciative straight-ahead jazz.

She is given credit as one of a few drummers who can easily move from straight-ahead jazz to rock to funk and back again. Of her album Woks on Canvas, jazz critic Mike Zwerin said: "Some drummers act, some react. Some keep time, others create it. Cindy Blackman is among the few who can..." Cindy Blackman has also released an acclaimed drumming instructional video entitled Multiplicity.

Cindy and her band members are an easily approachable bunch of people. After their performances they mixed and chatted freely with the crowd. I had a good chat with Cindy and Antoine. Both of them are great buddies of one of our greats, Hotep Galeta and are very eager to return to South Africa to have a more extensive tour. Antoine mentioned that on his next visit he wanted to take a trip to the Eastern Cape to go see Hotep. His big concern was how is he going to get there from Cape Town. He was very surprised when I told him that he has a big choice - airplane, train, bus, car or boat.

Hey Cindy, you guys will always be welcome here.

Posted in: Antoine Roney, Carlton Holmes, Cindy Blackman, George Mitchell, Hotep Idris Galeta