Artscape Youth Jazz Festival 2010

On Friday 18 June 2010 at 19.30 Artscape will celebrate the Youth Jazz festival with five bands that have been part of their annual mentorship programme since its inception in 2005. They include, ESP Band, The Belhar Music Collective, Little Giants, Touch and The Incredibles. These bands have achieved success against all odds while demonstrating to a broader community the value of a lifetime opportunity. The three hour festival in the Artscape Theatre has sold out every year and because of its exceptionally high standard it is patronized by jazz lovers of all ages.

This year the festival is a collaboration with the ‘Bavaria Meets Western Cape’ expo and the jazz ensembles Brassta La Vista from Bavaria, Germany, will share the platform with the featured bands. It is directed by Keith Tabisher and compèred once again by Gary van Dyk, both well-known personalities in the jazz industry.

The Youth Jazz programme has developed into a valuable, successful project for young emerging jazz musicians and their bands. It was initiated by Artscape in recognition of the enormous amount of raw talent nationally, particularly in Cape Town where there is a Jazz tradition. After auditions the musicians received master classes with acclaimed jazz icons from the Western Cape. The programme prepared them for the challenging arts arena they have entered and given them respect for their role models who have paved the way for them.

Amongst the jazz icons that generously contributed their expertise are : Melanie Scholtz, Keith Tabisher, Kevin Gibson, George Werner, Camillo Lombard, Kevin Gibson, Frank, Paco, Lucas Khumalo, Andrew Lilley, Wesley Rustin, André Swartz, the late Alex van Heerden and Joe Mthimka, Hotep Galeta, Alvin and Errol Dyers. Mzwakhe (Sticks) Mdidimba (Artscape) was the first project manager. Tarnia van Zitters is the current.

Several of the bands are in great demand playing regularly at gigs both in and out of the Western Cape and have performed at the National Jazz Festival in Grahamstown. Band members also auditioned and won places in the National Jazz Band and National Big Band and will once again perform at the 2010 festival in Grahamstown.

Says Marlene le Roux, Director of Artscape Audience Development and Education: "While Artscape provides the platform to showcase the work, it is essential to appreciate that opportunities can be created, but what is made of it, is important. Accountability is an aspect we endorse at all times. I believe that this festival demonstrates these sentiments and will be as rewarding as the previous years".

Tickets cost R50, Block Bookings of 10 or more R45, pensioners and scholars R30 Book through Computicket, Artscape Dial-a-Seat 021 421-7695, and Shoprite Checkers outlets and on line http://www.computicket.com/

This project is generously supported by Artscape and Distell.

ABOUT THE BANDS

ESP Band - Stellenbosch

ESP Band is an exciting local SA jazz band from Stellenbosch who have been gigging together for almost 5 years. Their debut album Taxi1022 is due to launch this month - June 2010 and features 15 original tracks, all written by members of the band. Varying in local ghoema, funk and pop jazz styles, it includes both vocal and instrumental features. They have performed alongside various other local jazz artists such as Melanie Scholtz, Robbie Jansen, Allou April, Tucan Tucan, N2 and many more. Their ages range from 20 to 33 years and they come from Stellenbosch, Macassar and Cape Town. www.espband.co.za

Band Members
Ramon Alexander 30 Keys and Musical Director Stellenbosch
Neville Arnolds 32 Drums Stellenbosch
Heinie Jack 33 Bass Guitar Stellenbosch
Simangele Mashazi 23 Vocals Stellenbosch
Dustin Julius 20 Guitar Macassar
Lou-Ann Stone 25 Alto Saxophone Cape Town
Ricardo de Ruiter 25 Vocals Stellenbosch

TOUCH

TOUCH was formed in August 2008. The band members are pupils and ex pupils from Bergvliet High School in Bergvliet and comprises of 7 members who have known each other since High School. They have a passion for a variety of music but influences are jazz, fusion, funk, R & B and disco. Their original music composed by the band members could be catergorised
as a fusion of all these genres. All band members take and have taken music as a subject and some are still part of Bergvliet High’s Big Band. All members can read music as well as play by ear. They do different types of gigs ranging from school functions, weddings and for charity orginisations. Two of their members are planning to study Jazz at UCT in 2010. TOUCH has performed at the 2009 Artscape Youth Jazz Festival, 2009 Standard Bank Youth Jazz Festival in Grahamstown, the 2009 Cape Town Jazzathon and recently performed at the Rainbow Room at the Nelson Mandela Place in Cape Town.

Band Members
Chad Hendricks 19 Trumpet Retreat,
Danielle McKinnon 18 Alto Saxophone Bergvliet,
Dino Kareklas 17 Piano/Vocalist Southfield
Jamie Steyn 18 Drums Elfindale,
Lauren Mathyse 18 Bass Guitar Steenberg
Michael Barnes 18 Trombone Bergvliet,
Zekele Grange 18 Tenor Saxophone South Field

THE INCREDIBLES

The Incredibles was formed in 2007 by Roy Roode who is passionate about developing music for youth. The band members are from Gugulethu, Nyanga and New Cross Roads and their ages range beween 18 and 37 years. They started with six Horn players, 3 Trumpeters 2 Trombonists as well as Roy himself on Trumpet and have performed in many gigs without a rhythm section, playing mostly Afro Jazz which includes the "Umbhaqanga" style. Invited by well-known professional bands, such as Little Giants and
Bra Cups Big Band to perform together, gave them the opportunity of experiencing playing with a rhythm section. Now they have their own.

Band Members
Siyamthanda Makatesi 20 Trumpet
Gcinikaya Mnyamana 29 Trumpet
Mbongeni Mshweshwe 21 Trombone
Zukile Finini 21 Trombone
Steven Campell 18 Trombone
Bandile Mbombela 32 Bass
Mzwakhe Mcekiso 37 Piano
Masixole Mkhonto 18 Drums

Suburbs of Musicians:
Gugulethu, Nyanga and New Cross Roads

THE BELHAR MUSIC COLLECTIVE (BMC)

The Belhar Music Collective is a group of young people from Belhar, who play a wide range of popular music. The members attend The Settlers High School (Matthew, Jodie, Tamlyn and Chad), Stellenberg High School (Alicia), Oude Molen Technical High School (Marlon), UCT (Margot) and CPUT (Isaac). The band is fully supported by their parents and Belhar community
members. They aim to make a meaningful contribution to the community by setting an example to young people of what can be achieved through hard work, discipline, commitment and the sheer pleasure of making music. The band has been accepted onto the programme for the Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival that takes place in Grahamstown in June 2010.

Band Members
Matthew Meas 17 Tenor Sax and Keyboards Kuilsrivier
Jodie Tabisher 19 Alto Sax Belhar
Tamlyn Philander 17 Trumpet Kuilsrivier
Alicia Domoney 17 Vocals Belhar
Margot de Bruyn 19 Vocals Bellville South
Chad Carolissen 17 Bass Northpine
Marlon Williams 18 Guitar Belhar
Isaac Phigeland 20 Drums Belhar

THE LITTLE GIANTS

The Little Giants was established in 1999 under musical directorship of Ezra Ngcukana and George Werner. This group of young musicians, aged between 15 and 21 years, from the suburbs and townships of the Cape Flats and greater Cape Town, has developed into a tightly knit integrated unit, bonded by their youthful enthusiasm and shared cultural experiences. Their repertoire of African standards, jazz standards and fusion, as well as, their own compositions has wowed the crowds wherever they have played. The combination of traditional rhythms and a solid brass section has provided this group with a biggish band sound that is not often found in community projects of this nature. The group has performed at most of Cape Town’s major festivals and jazz clubs as well as television and various Presidential and Parliament celebrations. They are accompanied by their musical director, George Werner, who has performed/recorded with many South African Jazz icons and produced several CDs. In 2006, the "Giants" released their debut CD, "Ungalibali" which featured 9 of their own compositions. Since then, they have performed on 4 other CD’s, namely "G Spot Grooves", "Winter in Cape Town" Vol. 1, II and III and
"Summer in Cape Town" Vol. 1 and a DVD "Songs worth singing, Words worth saying"

Band Members
Danni McKinnon 1st Alto saxophone
Pierre-Luc Kuhn 2nd Alto saxophone
Darren Austin Percussion / Clarinet
Jade De Waal 1st Tenor sax
Brandon Williams 2nd Tenor Sax
Kyle Daniels 1st Trumpet
Joshua Brookbanks 2nd Trumpet
Muneeb Herman 3rd Trumpet
Devon Cozett 4th Trumpet
Brandon McKinnon 1st Trombone
Steven Campbell 2nd Trombone
Therlo Lodewyk 3rd Trombone
Sean Bratz Guitar
Jessie Weber Piano
Simon Van Haarte Bass
Kurt Bowers Drums
Nobuhle Mazinyane Violin
Jazelle Scullard Violin

Suburbs of musicians -
Hanover Park, Mannenburg, Woodstock, Silverton, Athlone, Rosebank

Posted in: Artscape Youth Jazz Festival, Cape Town