1. NEWS & LIFESTYLE
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2 propertyjunction.co.za | 31 May 2015
LIFESTYLE
W
hat started off as
a single night of
performance has
grown tremendously over
its 16 years of fundraising
for underprivileged
communities. We chatted
to Ann Barr, board member
of the South African Jazz
Educators, about what
makes the Cape Town Big
Band Festival so incredible.
TheBigBandJazz
Festivalisknownto
supportworthycauses,
whatdoesithavein
storeforusthisyear?
So far this year we have been
assisting Hanover Park’s
Mount View High School in
purchasing a set of marimba.
The marimba set consists
of the bass, tenor, alto and
soprano, and between them
they span four octaves.
They cost R25 000 a set.
The festival will then assist
with securing a marimba
teacher from Woodworx
Marimbas to teach at the
school once a week. We’re
also making a donation
towards air ticket expenses
for Sibusiso Matsimela, an
extremely talented bass
player who is studying at
the South African College
of Music at the University
of Cape Town. Sibusiso has
been invited to participate
in a cultural exchange
and will be travelling to
Italy to participate in
the Arcevia Jazz Feast in
Marche. Sibusiso will be
attending lectures and
practical lessons as well
as participating in various
concerts during the week-
long event. Recently the
festival also covered the
expenses of steel band
groups from rural areas
who participated in the
Cape Town Steelband
Festival, and we’ll continue
with music education in
steel band and marimba.
Whatcanconcertgoers
lookforwardto?
Four evenings of amazing
big band swing, from good
old-fashioned standards
to newly composed South
African music, and big
band jazz performed by
enthusiastic young people
who are passionate about
music, be they at school
or at university level.
Ifyoucoulddescribethe
festivalinthreewords,
whatwouldtheybe?
Phenomenal, talented
musicians.
Y
s
a
t
i
I
i
Arethereanyup-and-
comingperforming
schoolstolookout
forin2015?
Each year the bands that
participate exceed my
expectations. The first
festival showcased five big
bands and over the years
the number of big bands
wishing to participate has
increased. This year we will
be showcasing 23 big bands.
What’sthebestadvice
youcouldgivetoan
aspiringjazzartist?
To any music student, be
they jazz or classic musicians
– practise, practise, practise,
play with passion and enjoy.
Whatwasthehighlight
ofyouryearswith
thefestival?
In the past we have produced
many rising stars who
originally started performing
with either school big bands
or studying at the South
African College of Music and
they have gone on to make
their mark on the national
and international music
scenes. Musicians such as
Judith Sephuma, Tutu, Dan
Shout, Darren English, to
name a few. The festival has
also attracted interest from
international musicians
who have participated
in it and undertaken
workshops for the young
musicians – Professor
John Thomas (US), Steve
Waterman (UK), Professor
Ian Darrington (UK) and AJ
Brown (UK). In prior years
we have also showcased
big bands from Port
Elizabeth, Grahamstown,
Johannesburg and the UK.
EXPERIENCE IT
FOR YOURSELF
The Cape Town Big Band
Jazz Festival runs from
3–6 June. Tickets available
through Computicket,
computicket.com
This year the four-night-long Big Band Jazz Festival
gives up the stage up to a numerous inspirational
performers. And it’s all for a good cause
TheCapeof
goodjazz
WORDS: MEAGHAN ESSEL || IMAGES: SUPPLIED
The festival would like to
extend its sincere thanks
to the continued support
of its sponsors: SAMRO
Foundation, Pres Les,
Varsity College, RSN and
Paul Bothner Music.
Onahigh
note
TheCapeTown
BigBandJazz
Festival:
•wasfoundedin
1999bythe
lateDennisBarr,
associatedwith
andsupportedby
theSouthAfrican
CollegeofMusic
•attracts
musiciansfrom
SA,theUKand
theUS
•hosts620
youngpeople
frompreviously
disadvantaged
communities.