WIN tickets to see EMBO - A Place in Time

EMBO - A Place in Time at Artscape

Through indigenous musical instruments, song and dance, beautiful stories of wisdom are related about the San and Xhosa nations and their virtues of UBuntu, (honouring people and their allegiances and relations with each other) ... in an ideal world... the world from the beginning of time ! Featuring DIZU PLAATJIES, Ibuyambo Ensemble, Maskandi waseEndulo, Utyityimbo Dance , HILTON SCHILDER (Guest Artists) and JazzArt dancers.

The production is researched and written by Fatima Dike and directed by Royston Stoffels.

A project of the Artscape Indigenous Arts Department.

Performance times are December 4 at 20:15, December 5 at 19:00 and Dec 6 at 14:00 & 19:00. Tickets cost R35. Book at Computicket, Artscape Dial-a-Seat 021 421 7695, Shoprite/Checkers outlets and on line www.computicket.com

To win a set of double tickets for December 4 or 5, email your name and contact number to capetownnatural@gmail.com with EMBO in the subject line. Also state which day you would prefer to watch the performance.

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Hanepoot Big Band

Catch the Hanepoot Big Band, an 18-piece Big Band playing South African Jazz, live at Swingers, Wetton, Sunday, December 7 at 18:00.

The band features Kesivan Naidoo on drums, Shane Cooper on bass, Bruce Muirhead on guitar, George Werner on piano, Hanepoot van Tonder on trombone, Jasper Cook on trombone, Chris Tokalon on tenor sax, Storm de Klerk on also sax, Luanda Gogwana on trumpet.

Entrance R40

info: Nick 084 660 6158

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EMBO – A Place in Time

Through indigenous musical instruments, song and dance, beautiful stories of wisdom are related about the San and AmaXhosa nations and their virtues of Ubuntu in an ideal world … the world from the beginning of time. Presented by Artscape, EMBO – A Place in Time is an inspiring new work written and researched by Fatima Dike and directed by Royston Stoffels. It has a brief season in the Artscape Theatre from 4 to 6 December 2008 and follows on from Embo Khonnexion, a work-in-progress, documenting and presenting significant history for the theatre.

Featuring internationally acclaimed traditional music specialist, Dizu Plaatjies, who is also musical director, there is cast of over 30 musicians, singers and dancers that include the Ibuyambo Ensemble, Masilande Endulo and Umtyityimbo Dance Group. Guest artist, Hilton Schilder - another international icon is an accomplished jazz musician and recongised for the many musical instruments he plays, including the Khoisan mouth bow.

In search of their cultural roots, six young people embark on a journey of discovery and encounter the magical world of mysticism through a beautiful land of kings and kingdoms, rainmakers and traditional healers. But, they are confronted with many a strange phenomena, territorial war, death and destruction - shattering the ideal world where love, respect and the value of life once existed.

Travelling on this extraordinary expedition as narrators, are six young talented artists who themselves are discovering their own roots. For Abey Xakwe, Ntombekhaya Matayisi, Bukiwe Menziwa, Lungi Pinda, Melikhaya Tana and Masizole Marafana it’s not only an emotional experience but one of great importance as they relate and record history that may have got lost in the passage of time.

Initiating programmes to showcase indigenous cultures and traditions of the Western Cape through artistic products, Artscape continues to explore the cultural links between cultural diversity, dialogue and development as a means of jointly achieving a more satisfactory intellectual, emotional, moral and spiritual co-existence.

Generating a ‘cultural awakening’, this production is the 2nd part of a work-in-progress, and a journey where audiences will have opportunities to explore cultures that were never affirmed in the apartheid system. It is a valuable platform for learning, development, expression and healing through indigenous story telling, song, dance, and music.

Performance times are December 4 at 20:15, December 5 at 19:00 and Dec 6 at 14:00 & 19:00. Tickets cost R35. Book at Computicket, Artscape Dial-a-Seat 021 421 7695, Shoprite/Checkers outlets and on line www.computicket.com

Embo – A Place in Time is a project of the Artscape Indigenous Arts Department.

The production is researched and written by Fatima Dike and directed by Royston Stoffels.

Take the opportunity and see this unique production - book now !

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Table Mountain Aerial Cableway's Summer Sunset Special

Hey, if walking up Table Mountain is too much of a physical effort for you, why not make use of the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway's Summer Sunset Special.

From Saturday, 1 November 2008 until Saturday, 28 February 2009, after 18:00, pay R72.50 per person return; for children under 18 years, the return trip cost R38 per person. Note that the last trip up is at 21:00 and the last car down is at 22:00.

On New Year's Eve the last car up is at 23:00 and the last car down is at 1:00.

Note that the Cableway operates weather permitting.

For more info call 021 4248181 or
visit the website at http://www.tablemountain.net.

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Image Composite Editor - panoramic image stitcher

If you are looking for a utility to create a panoramic image from a few overlapping photographs, then here it is. Image Composite Editor (ICE) is a free editor which was developed by Microsoft Research.

The image in the title section of this blog is actually three separate photographs that were stitch into a panoramic image.

The link to download this free utility is available here.

Other interesting Microsoft photography links:
Microsoft Professional Photography
HD View
Photosynth

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Leslie Kleinsmith CD Launch - "All Wound Up"

Catch singer Leslie Kleinsmith at Hanover Street, Grand West for his cd launch on 8 November 2008. The cd is titled "All Wound Up". Appearing with Leslie will be Alistair Izobel, Ginger La Etto and Wilmot Fredericks.

Tickets Available through Computicket.
Ticket Prices: R130 - CD and entry
R60 - entry only.
Doors open at 18H00

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The Hanepoot Big Band Sunday Dinner Gig

Coming Sunday 2nd November 2008, The Hanepoot Big Band is starting a regular monthly South African Big Band Jazz slot at Swingers Jazz Club in Wetton (early Sunday evening 'dinner' gig: 6 - 9pm).

Swingers is a well established Cape Jazz venue, and has become particularly popular among jazz audiences and muscians alike for the regular Monday night jam sessions.

This Sunday HBB will be settling in with the Big Band featuring their usual line-up of soloists including Chris Tokalon on tenor, Jasper Cook on trombone and George Werner on piano, Storm de Klerk on alto, and watch out for drummer Andre Swartz who's been playing a few gigs with the band, including the White Shark Festival in Gansbaai last weekend.

As usual HBB will be performing an all-South African programme of big band jazz, including several compositions by Douglas Armstrong and Merton Barrow, and arrangements of tunes by Errol Dyers, Dudu Pukwana and Zakes Nkosi, including a brand new arrangement of another Marabi gem by legendary composer Zakes Nkosi, called "Jackpot".

Swingers is a great venue in the traditional jazz club mode. Tables and chairs, a bar, food and a fabulous vibe. Think Ronnie Scott's in London or the Village Vanguard in New York. Come and experience it for yourself! The gig on Sunday starts at 6pm and entry is R50.

Swingers is located at 1 Wetwyn Rd, Wetton. For those who have never been there, from the mountain side, you follow Wetton from Rosmead side, go past the racecourse, over the M5 bridge, and, as soon as you go over the next (railway) bridge, take the first turn right. Swingers is straight ahead of you. Turn right before you drive into it!

For further information please contact Swingers on 021-762-2443 or Nick Green on 084-660-6158 or 021-761-7740.

The Hanepoot Big Band:
Saxes: Storm de Klerk, John Ntshibilikwana, Chris Tokalon, Fred Block, Nick Green
Trumpets: Douglas Armstrong, Daniel Kaplan, Stuart Bowen, Dean Manuel
Trombones: Jasper Cook, Andrew O'Donoghue, Mike Nixon, Jeremy Thurgood
Rhythm (g, p, b, d): Colin Miller, George Werner, Sidney McKinnon, Ted Frazer

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