More artists announced including Tunde of Lighthouse Family, Moonchild, MonoNeon, Judith Sephuma, Mi Casa, Thandi Ntuli, Hilton Schilder, Mervyn Africa and more, who are heading to the Cape Town International Jazz Festival this May to join Matt Bianco.
In what is shaping up to be one of the best line-ups in a history of outstanding programmes, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) is pulling out all the stops to ensure that its comeback on 3 and 4 May 2024, is one to be enjoyed and remembered.
True to its roots of providing the performance space for a mixture of established and bright new talent, this year’s festival will showcase African music royalty alongside their international counterparts. So, let’s not waste any more time, appearing on the bill for the 2024 CTIJF and joining the already announced artists, are:
The vocal tones of Tunde Baiyewu of Lighthouse Family (UK), alternative R&B group Moonchild (USA), Grammy-winning bassist virtuoso and experimental musician, singer, and songwriter MonoNeon (USA) brings his unique existential jazz-funk to the party, whilst Francesca Biancoli’s (Italy/SA) contemporary melding of jazz and neo-soul will allow audiences to explore their own authenticity and daring. The award-winning drummer and composer Darshan Doshi will also be on hand to present his trio featuring saxophonist Mark Hartsuch & bassist Tony Grey (India/USA).
Bringing it home, South Africa’s platinum selling, Queen of Afro-jazz, Judith Sephuma (SA), The Voice SA star and platinum record seller songbird, Ami Faku (SA), the Hilton Schilder Quintet who have created a solid following for their unique Cape jazz sounds, and the much loved and highly respected South African jazz vocalist, pianist, and composer, Thandi Ntuli (SA), who will present Rainbow Revisited with Tlala Makhene and Sphelelo Mazibuko (SA), as well as the legendary pianist and composer Mervyn Africa (SA), all of whom add some extra glittering sparkle to the re-imagined stages at the festival.
The ever-popular Mi Casa (SA), whose new single with Malik Harris, “Who Cares”, is ramping up the charts, will show crowds why it is they are no fools, with their hip swaying, foot stomping sounds and lyrics, are also on this year’s billing. Also, creating the party atmosphere out on the Topaz stage, are the tempo tapping sounds of Amapiano jazz crossover artist, Daliwonga (SA), Afro-house artist Mörda (SA), the pulsing beats of the ever-energetic Mac G (SA), the laid-back groove of CTIJF resident DJs, DJ Clint L (SA) and the good vibes of Jab a Jaw (SA).
Lindsay Rhoda, Head of Talent at espAfrika, founders and organisers of the CTIJF, believes the line-up has delivered a masterful blend that showcases today’s global melting pot of cultures and storytelling, and one that embraces all ages, including a younger audience and the world they live in.
Jazz is as relevant now if not more, than it has ever been, and she says: “This festival is one of the very few on the continent that conveys a comprehensive array of the jazz-genre’s multitude of layers and whose baseline of rhythm represents jazz’s complex foundations and traditions and its constant evolution.
“The 2024 festival experience is a nuanced anthem to where the world finds itself at present – at the crossroads of a new age, with a progression of artists adding their authentic and musical signatures to the messages of those who have already set the message.”
The organisers of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival also have further good news, stage names will revert to their original designations and so once more, there will be Kippies (Sapphire), Manenberg (Topaz), Rosies (Emerald) and Moses Molelekwa (Ruby).