{"id":19922,"date":"2013-05-22T20:29:18","date_gmt":"2013-05-22T18:29:18","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/african-influence-dominates-festival-offering-of-bluesfunkworld-music\/"},"modified":"2013-05-22T20:29:18","modified_gmt":"2013-05-22T18:29:18","slug":"african-influence-dominates-festival-offering-of-bluesfunkworld-music","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/african-influence-dominates-festival-offering-of-bluesfunkworld-music\/","title":{"rendered":"African influence dominates Festival offering of Blues\/Funk\/World Music"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Standard Bank Jazz Festival, Grahamstown 2013 incorporates a variety of disciplines into its programme. Blues\/Funk\/World Music is one of the genres that will be highlighted at the festival this year, though it is just one part of the formidable line-up which includes Mainstream, Afro-Jazz, Modern Jazz, Youth and the Standard Bank Jazz and Blues Caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n

Vocalist\/guitarist Vusi Mahlasela has been affectionately dubbed \u201cThe Voice\u201d of South Africa in tribute to his passionately soaring performances. With such a rich and vibrant sound this \u201cAfrican folk\u201d singer-songwriter has inspired many with his themes of freedom, forgiveness and reconciliation. Mahlasela\u2019s track-record boasts performances at esteemed events such as at Nelson Mandela\u2019s Presidential inauguration, the FIFA World Cup Kick Off concert, and Mandela\u2019s 90th Birthday 46664 celebration in Hyde Park, London, to name but a few. In 2012, the South African Music (SAMA) Awards fittingly honoured him with a lifetime achievement award for music. He is supported by Oupa Makhubela (guitar\/vocal), Elwyn Masango (bass), and Johnny Motuba (drums).<\/p>\n

Since their inception in 2011, MiCasa has taken South African audiences by storm. A groovy mix of urban house and jazz influenced the band\u2019s first album, Micasa Music, which went gold and won several South Africa Music Awards in 2012, as well as nominations for \u201cBest Dance Album\u201d, \u201cAlbum of the Year\u201d, \u201cGroup of the Year\u201d, \u201cNewcomer of the Year\u201d, and \u201cRecord Of The Year\u201d! This year even saw them perform at the inauguration celebrations of Barack Obama. Consisting of three core members, this young group hails from Johannesburg and Port Alfred; and with such a prolific career in such a short space of time, keep your eyes and ears fixed on this fire-starting trio. Grahamstown audiences will see J\u2019Something (vocal), Mo-T (trumpet), Dr Duda (producer keyboard) on stag e with Carlo Jooste (bass), Lebo Mokhela (percussion), and Mike Mwale (vocal).<\/p>\n

The Soweto String Quartet is undeniably one of South Africa\u2019s most-loved music groups and their sound is always fresh, vibrant and trendy, never failing to deliver an enchanting performance. With a plethora of accolades and performance highlights the group is a force on the South African music scene. The four members of the Soweto String Quartet are a political statement in themselves \u2013 four African classical musicians from a South African township, backed by a jazz rhythm section. It\u2019s no wonder they are reportedly Nelson Mandela\u2019s favourite music group!<\/p>\n

Bruut! is a funky group comprised of four young, hip Dutch players: Maarten Hogenhuis (sax), Folkert Oosterbeeck (Hammond organ), Thomas Rolff (bass), and Felix Schlarmann (drums). Their progressive playing stretches the boundaries of traditional approaches to music, combining a mix of funk, blues, dance and contemporary jazz to create a uniquely-titled \u2018super-jazz\u2019. Never lacking in musical ingenuity they constantly evolve to find the niche of every new performance.
\nSaxophonist Rus Nerwich set out to have a project that is simple, fun and musically rich; and it has come to fruition inThe Collective Imagination \u2013 Under the Poetree.Incorporating elements of the different styles he enjoys in a contemporary musical context, he wrote more lyrically-orientated songs \u2013 things he\u2019d like to say more directly to the audience \u2013 with the intent and style of Guru Jazzmataz, The Roots or Buckshot Lafonque with an African spin. Sparked by the musical synergy betwe en him and modern rap, Nerwich is backed by a solid band of experienced jazzers; including the likes of Dave Ledbetter (guitar), Andrew Lilley (piano), Wesley Rustin(bass), and Kevin Gibson (drums).<\/p>\n

Slide guitar, harmonica, African blues guitar and soul vocals all feature in the vibrant sound of Robin Auld. An award-winning artist with an international CV spanning twenty albums, he has performed and recorded around the world. Currently based in the UK, his music has evolved from the pop sound of the early recordings that made him famous to the contemporary mix of roots influences that make up his sound today. Over the years many of Southern Africa\u2019s top musicians have appeared on his albums, including the likes of Anton Fig, Louis Mhlanga and Johnny Clegg. He performs in Grahamstown as a trio, with Schalk Joubert (bass) and Kevin Gibson (drums).<\/p>\n

Joubert (bass) and Gibson (drums) extend their collaborations to form a blues trio with guitarist Albert Frost. Frost is an all-round master guitarist with a prolific career over 20 years and, with a natural onstage charisma, he has performed on nearly every major stage in South Africa. Although continually on a quest to re-invent himself, he returns often to his first love \u2013 the blues. Voted as Best Blues Guitarist in South Africa by Stage Magazine, he has performed internationally alongside the likes of The Rolling Stones and REM.<\/p>\n

This year will also see the establishment of the Standard Bank Jazz Blues Cafe at the Lowlander, St. Andrew\u2019s College, which will end each night with a great jazz show and a late night jazz jam session or blues gig \u2013 a place where audiences can catch musicians letting off steam and butting musical heads late into the night, featuring the likes of Nduduzo Makhathini, saxophonist Dan Shout, Lee Thomson, Imbaula, and the Rick van Heerden Quartet.
\nThe 39th edition of the National Arts Festival, Grahamstown will take place from 27 June to 7 July 2013.<\/p>\n

For more information check www.standardbankarts.co.za or www.youthjazz.co.za<\/p>\n

The Standard Bank Jazz Festival is presented with support funding from:
\nInstitut Fran\u00e7ais, the French Institute of South Africa and the Alliance Fran\u00e7aise
\nPaul Bothner Music
\nProHelvetia
\nRoyal Netherlands Embassy
\nRoyal Norwegian Embassy
\nSAMRO
\nSwedish Arts Council \/ Swedish Jazz Federation \/ Mary Lou Meese Youth Jazz Fund
\nJamey Aebersold Jazz
\nThe National Arts Festival is sponsored by Standard Bank, The National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Eastern Cape Government, Department of Arts and Culture, National Arts Council, City Press and M Net.<\/p>\n

URL<\/strong>: http:\/\/www.nationalartsfestival.co.za<\/a>
Twitter<\/strong>: @artsfestival
Facebook<\/strong>: http:\/\/www.facebook.com\/nationalartsfestival?fref=ts<\/a>
YouTube<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

Author: Fiona Gordon<\/strong> from The Famous Idea Trading Co.<\/a>. Originally distributed by MyPR.co.za<\/a>.<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n

No of Images Uploaded: Three<\/strong><\/p>\n

To gain access to Three<\/em> image\/s please Like, Tweet or +1 this article:<\/strong><\/p>\n

Images:<\/strong>
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\nVusi Mahlasela Photographer:\"Soweto-String-Quartet\"
\nSoweto String Quartet<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Standard Bank Jazz Festival, Grahamstown 2013 incorporates a variety of disciplines into its programme. Blues\/Funk\/World Music is one of the genres that will be highlighted at the festival this year, though it is just one part of the formidable line-up which includes Mainstream, Afro-Jazz, Modern Jazz, Youth and the Standard Bank Jazz and Blues […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[1],"tags":[3257,1452],"class_list":{"0":"post-19922","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-south-africa","7":"tag-mypr","8":"tag-public-relations","9":"entry"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19922","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19922"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19922\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19922"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19922"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19922"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}