Pundits have already proclaimed that this Saturday performance by The Cape Jazz Collective at Barrydale’s ‘Concert @Die Karoolkie’ is going to be a hit.
Commenting on the event on his personal timeline local multi instrumentalist David Derbyshire – who last performed at the Country Pumpkin alongside Reuben Hart of Klein Karoo Live Entertainment – said “this is going to be spectacular”.
David makes a valid point as this show marks a significant point in the history of jazz in South Africa.
For the last decade renowned Cape Town pianist George Werner and Montagu trombonist Jannie “Hanepoot” van Tonder had sporadically worked on collating a sheet music collection of 100 South African jazz tunes.
This was done in similar tradition to the famous “Real Book” – a collection of 500 jazz standards that was created in the USA during the 1970’s and is used by every aspiring jazz musician since.
This work flowed out of their various projects as band leaders over the years for which they have often been transcribing SA jazz tunes, and during which it became clear that a South African version of such a book would fill a void – especially in the education of young musicians.
This process kicked-off with the publication of the Cape Jazz Collection in 2008, a book they collated with guitarist Colin Miller, which contains lead sheets of 30 Cape Jazz tunes.
The team behind the book recently received some financial support for completing this mammoth project, that included the printing and distribution of 200 copies of the new book ‘The South African Jazz Collection’ to schools and universities.
As part of the book launch a series of concerts and workshops showcasing some of the various styles of SA jazz will be presented across the country, with Barrydale being their first stop.
South Africa has a rich array of unique styles of music. In the jazz genre there are several recognisable styles that mostly have deep roots in traditional music. We even have styles that are unique to the various cities e.g. Cape Goema, and Sophiatown Marabi.
The Cape Jazz Collective is a group of musicians who have come together for these concerts and have all at various occasions actually worked with composers whose music is represented in the book.
On piano is George Werner, with Eldred Schilder on bass and Ivan Bell on drums. They are joined by Byron Abrahams on saxophones, Jannie “Hanepoot” van Tonder on trombone and Anathi Mobo on vocals.
On Saturday (22 May) at 12:00 there will be a workshop at the Fortshaven Hall in Smitsville which geared towards young musicians, but anyone is welcome.
This will be followed theconcert at Die Karoolkie in Bain Street which starts at 6:30pm.
Entry to the workshop is free, tickets to the concert are R100 at the gate. Please bring your own drinks.
For more information email dassierock@jazz.co.za or phone 082 404 6397.
All Covid-19 protocols will be observed. Please wear masks inside the venue at all times,
Also Read: World Class Music at the Karoo Saloon
