Since it's inception in 2003,
Artscape’s Youth Jazz programme has developed into a valuable and successful project for young emerging jazz musicians and their bands. After auditions they receive master classes with acclaimed jazz icons from the Western Cape.
On
Saturday 6 June 2009 from 15:00 to 18:00 at the
Artscape Theatre three bands selected for the programme -
Public Attention (Vredenburg),Touch (Bergvliet) and
Ological Studies (Mowbray) will showcase their work at the Youth Jazz Festival which also features their mentors -
Melanie Scholtz, Keith Tabisher, Andrew Lilley and
Kevin Gibson.
The festival this year is in memory of the late
Joe Mthimka and
Alex Van Heerden who were both involved in the Artscape Youth Jazz Proframme. Check out the Tribute Exhibition in the Artscape foyer.
'Touch' was formed August 2008. The seven band members are all learners at Bergvliet High School who have known each other since pre-primary and attended the same primary school. They have a passion for a variety of music but are influenced mostly by jazz, fusion, funk, R &B and disco. Their own compositions are a fusion of these genres. All take music as a subject at school, can read music as well as play by ear and are members of the Bergvliet High's Big Band. They do different types of gigs ranging from school functions to charity organizations and have recently taken part in the 2009 Cape Town Jazzathon.
Band Members:
Danielle McKinnon 17 Alto Sax Bergvliet
Chad Hendricks 18 Trumpet Retreat
Jamie Steyn 17 Drums Elfindale
Michael Barnes 17 Trombone Bergvliet
Dino Kareklas 16 Piano/Vocals Southfield
Lauren Mathyse 17 Bass Steenberg
'Public Attention' is a well known band in the Saldanha Bay Municipal area based on the West Coast and known for their Fusion Afro jazz style. The band was formed 3 years ago under the leadership of Jamelo Boois. Their music started in church and developed under the influences of difference types of music. No-one in the band has had any formal training. Some of the band members have travelled overseas and each day is a new learning curve for them.
Band Members:
Jamelo Boois 24 Piano Vredenburg
William van Wyk 20 Bass Vredenburg
Willdrew Maya 21 Drums Atlantis
Frank Williams 34 Guitar Vredenburg
'OLOGICAL STUDIES' - All three members are studying music at the
South African College of College of Music at UCT. Sibusiso Dlamini and Phumlani Mtiti have gigged together regularly with Sadé Ross recently joining them to form their small band ‘Ological Studies’. Deviating from the typical jazz combo they enjoy the intimacy of a trio. With the lack of the traditional rhythm section (drums and bass) careful attention is paid to their repertoire choice in order to create fullness of pulse and harmony without losing the depth of music. Communication between the musicians is more intense as they are challenged to work in this format which they find very rewarding.
Band Members:
Sadé Ross 19 Vocals Grassy Park
Sibusiso Dlamini 22 Piano Mowbray
Phumlani Mtiti 21 Saxophone Observatory
MENTORS 2009MELANIE SCHOLTZ – Voice and Repertoire - Head Mentor / Artistic Director
Melanie Scholtz has been singing from a young age. She graduated from UCT Opera School Cum Laude in 2000. She has appeared on the Felicia Show, SABC Woman of the year awards 2 years in a row. She has also performed The SA National Anthem in front of a world audience at the Presidents' Cup in George. In 2002, she was awarded The Best Jazz Vocalist in the Old Mutual Jazz Encounters. She has performed abroad to audiences in Norway, Holland, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Morocco. She is featured on Jimmy Dludlu's Afrocentric album as well as Mark Fransman's Strait and Narro Ahead. In 2006, she released her debut album at Artscape, entitled Zillion Miles. She has worked with the likes of Sibongile Khumalo, Joe McBride, Gerald Veasley, the Cape Philharmonic and many more. In 2006 and 2007 she was a mentor to Kidz Can Music Academy in Bonteheuwel and Mentor/ Curriculum advisor in the Artscape Youth Jazz Project in 2006 and 2007.
KEITH TABISHER - Guitar
Keith Tabisher started playing the guitar at the age of 13. He studied classical guitar at UCT SACM with Elspeth Jack and the late Neefa Van Der Schyff. He spent 12 years as a music lecturer at Sallie Davies College and currently works as a Music Curriculum Adviser for the Western Cape Education Department. Keith currently performs with a range of different musicians, covering various genres and musical styles. He works regularly with the Serenade Sax Trio and the guitar duo Jazz, etc. He has recently established Trio du Cap, playing Acoustic Guitar based jazz in a trio setting.
ANDREW LILLEY – Piano and Brass
Andrew Lilley began a career in Architecture but after completing a BAS at UCT, a scholarship to Berkley College of Music, Boston afforded him the opportunity to pursue music. Over a subsequent period of some 4 years he studied under the mentorship of legendary hard bop pianist and composer, Donald Brown, New York Enja recording artist Bruce Barth and the renowned Ray Santisi under whose tutorship many great players, including Keith Jarret, passed. During this time, Lilley also studied film scoring and synthesis and was awarded the NARAS scholarship for Music Technology. He co-composed many scores with well known composer, performer and ex Blood Sweat and Tears trumpet player, Bruce Cassidy, ultimately winning an award for the M-Net New directions movie 'Angel'. He has worked with the finest of the finest including saxophonists, Dale Barlow, Dave O'Higgins and UK alto player Alan Barnes: percussionist Efrain Toro, trumpet player maestro, Bobby Shew and the New York based composer and trombonist John Fetchock. He performs with his own trio on the Cape Town Jazz scene and is currently an Associate Professor at University of Cape Town, lecturing in Jazz studies. Many fine young musicians have passed under his mentorship including BMG recording artists, Jimmy Dludlu, Judith Sephuma and Selaelo Selota. He appears on many jazz recordings releasing his debut album 'Rejoicing' in 2005.
KEVIN GIBSON – Bass, Drums/Percussion
Kevin Gibson was born in Durban, and began performing as a drummer with local musicians from the age of 13. He studied at the University of Natal with Darius Brubeck for 2 years, Berklee College of Music for 3 months and North Florida University for 6 months. He taught drums at UCT for 4 years after moving to Cape Town in 1991, where he currently resides. He has been a teacher and performer at the Standard Bank Youth Jazz Program since 2001, and performed at the Klein Karoo festival in 2007 and 2009. During the five years that South African artists appeared at the North Sea Jazz Festival in holland, he was the only musician from S A to attend all five events, and has performed with at least two bands at each of the C T International Jazz Festivals, appearing with four bands in 2007. He has played in Cuba, Brasil, Russia, Serbia, USA, Canada, England, Germany, Spain, Portugal, France, Holland and Algeria.
Kevin has performed and travelled with various local and visiting musicians that include - Darius Brubeck , Zim Ngqawana, Johnny Clegg, Koos Kombuis, Laurinda Hofmeyr, Schalk Joubert, Ollie Viljoen, Paul Hanmer, Jackson Browne, Herb Ellis, Johnny Fourie, Winston Mankunku, McCoy Mrubata, Vusi Mahlasela, Sandile Shange, Hotep Galeta and many other South African musicians.
PROGRAMMECompère Gary van Dyk
Inspired by the great American Songbook
Rodgers and Hart, Oscar Hammerstein, Cole Porter, Gershwin,
Irving Berlin, Styne and Cahn and Jerome Kern
- Touch
- Ological Attention
- Public Attention
- Interval
- Youth Jazz Vocal Ensemble
- Mentors Band
This annual event is sold out every year because of the extraordinary talent and high standard of performance, so best to book your tickets in advance.
Tickets cost R50. Book through
Computicket, Artscape Dial-a-Seat 021 421-7695, Shoprite Checkers outlets and on line www.computicket.com There are discounts for students and block bookings.
This project is generously supported by
Artscape and Distell.
