SA Rocks

The Western Cape is abuzz this week and weekend with things to do. But I wanted to focus on the Cape Town Big Band Jazz Festival that starts on May 21st and ends on May 23rd.

From the CTBBJF (hehehe) website:

FOUNDED IN 1999 by the Late Dennis Barr

The Festival:

* The Festival is a community outreach project in support of music education in big band jazz for school and college students.

Proceeds from the Festival go towards a scholarship in the jazz studies programme at SA College of Music, sponsorship to the Beau Soleil Music for Africa Trust as well as the sponsorship of a music teacher at Manenberg High School for their Steelband Project, donations to participating bands and other music initiatives.

Musical instruments have been donated to Beau Soleil Africa Trust, Athlone Music Academy, York Road Primary School, Lansdowne, as well as Eluxolweni Primary School, Khayelitsha.

* provides an opportunity for young musicians to display their talents to a knowledgeable and appreciative audience at a prestigious event. And to assess their performance by comparison with the other bands in a non-competitive environment.
* encourages young musicians, presently at a primary and secondary level, to develop their talents through further education at tertiary level, leading to a career in music.
* assists in widening young people’s participation in playing a style of music familiar to their culture across the community.
* reflects a world-wide resurgence in popularity of the big band swinging sound of exponents such as, Count Basie, Benny Goodman, Glen Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Gerry Bosman and so on.
* promotes awareness of the big band jazz style, gaining young fans and reviving fond memories of the swing era for many older fans.
* attracts growing support from the business and public community.
* associated with and supported by the S.A. College of Music.

This seems to be a family orientated event with many bands playing and lots going on. Here’s the breakdown of who’s playing:

Participating Bands…

Thursday 21 May

* Alexander Sinton Jazz Band
* Little Giants
* Wynberg Boys’ Jazz Band
* Beau Soleil Music Centre
* Heathfield High Jazz Band
* Pinelands Jazz Band
* Rondebosch Boys’ High Jazz Band

Friday 22 May

* Stellenbosch Youth Jazz Band
* Alexander Road High Big Band (PE)
* Bergvliet High Jazz Band
* Bishops Jazz Band
* Rustenburg Girls’ Jazz Band
* Bergvliet J2
* Alumni Big Band

Saturday 23 May

* Sans Souci Jazz Cats
* The S.A. College Junior School Jazz Band
* Westerford High Big Band
* The S.A. College High School Junior Jazz Band
* The S.A College High School Senior Jazz Band
* UCT Big Band

Saturday 23 May

During the afternoon will see our Chisa Community Outreach Project. This is a special performance to an invited audience of learners interested in music.

Popularity: 4% [?]

I visited Cape Town a week or two back. I was there for a wedding but managed to discover a fantastic local singing talent that I’d actually known at Rhodes University.

Black Porcelain (stage name) is the moniker of one Carol Mashigo. Carol bubbles passion and oozes enthusiasm for her music, her art and her life.

You can join the Black Porcelain networks here:

Myspace
Facebook
Diva2b

She lives in Cape Town and through a series of interesting occurrences I was reintroduced to Carol and her absolutely stunning music.

She released her EP Green (only five songs) late last year.
Track names:
1. Johnny
2. Teacup
3. Nobody knows
4. Lovelies
5. Your dreams

Teacup,Nobody knows and Johnny are the most play listed.

For my fantastic readers I have managed to get three of Black Porcelain’s singles for your to download at your will.

So please feel free to do so now (click to stream, RIGHT CLICK, SAVE LINK AS, to save to your desktop):

Johnny

Nobody Knows

Teacup

Please also spread the love. Send the links to your mates, pass around the mp3′s if you know someone who knows someone then send it on to that person too.

I am truly impressed and moved by Carol’s fantastic music, incredible voice and unwavering passion.

The EP, Green, was released November last year and her songs have been play listed around the country. Radio stations like Tru FM, Heart FM, UJ FM and Capricorn FM to mention a few. She is currently working on a full album. She will be performing at this years Woman’s Show in Cape Town on the 22 February. She will be leaving for Nigeria to perform there in March. Dates will confirmed soon.

Popularity: 6% [?]

I have just bought a CD for the first time in about a year. The reason? Goldfish.

I saw this rocking, jamming, fun-filled and talented duo play at the 46664 concert this month. That was me, committed and in love. Their music is different, local, gifted and inspired.

I am not sure if I can correctly classify their sound or if their sound can be classified at all, but I have found my summer beats! Apparently their sound is a jazz infused deep house of some sort or other. Whatever it is, it’s here to hopefully stay and keep my bouncing.

Do yourself a favour and get over to their site and have a listen. If you dig their vibe buy the CD this festive season. You wont regret it!

Maybe I will try and see if I can get the guys from the band on an SA Rocks exclusive interview sometime soon. Possible bump in to them somewhere on the coast. If you see them play live, send them to SA Rocks or one better, interview them yourself and send me the video!!

update: I found a video!!

Popularity: 6% [?]