Latest news with #22ndCapeTownInternationalJazzFestival
IOL News
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Cape Town International Jazz Festival: Where Legacy Meets Tomorrow
The Cape Town International Jazz Festival bridges the past and future, celebrating the rich legacy of jazz as a powerful voice for freedom and unity, writes Sekunjalo Deputy Chairman Rayhaan Survé. Image: Independent Media Rayhaan Survé For some, jazz is a rhythm that unlocks joy. For others, it is the sound of resistance, a voice when words fail, a melody infused with pain and hope. For me, jazz is freedom. It is a global language that crosses borders, cultures, and time zones, one that speaks of unity, memory, and possibility. The legacy of jazz is inseparable from humanity's most defining struggles and triumphs. From its beginnings in New Orleans in the 20th century to its arrival and integration with Marabi in South Africa, jazz has always stood as both witness and participant in history. Viewed by the apartheid regime as subversive, jazz was heavily policed, censored, and pushed underground. Musicians and gatherings were targeted, yet the music endured, in townships and homes, becoming a symbol of unity and resistance. Lira delivered a powerful and emotional performance on the Kippies stage on the final night of the 22nd Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Icons like Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Abdullah Ibrahim, Caiphus Semenya, and Letta Mbulu carried the torch of liberation through their music that captured both the pain of oppression and the dream of a free South Africa. Globally, musicians such as Carlos Santana and Harry Belafonte also stood in solidarity with South Africa, proving that jazz and resistance knew no borders. The movement 'Artists Against Apartheid' united voices against racial injustice from South Africa to around the world including the United Kingdom and USA. The values that jazz represented through the 1900s: freedom of expression, unity, and creativity, are the very values that I hold dear and why we, as the Survé Family, continue to support The Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF).The festival has continued to bring together people of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds to celebrate Jazz and what it means. It is the music of emotional honesty, of individuality within harmony. The crowd feeds off the energy brought by Masego, as the multi-instrumentalist moved around the Kippies stage at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival on Friday evening. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers We have played a key role in keeping jazz alive worldwide, with the festival ranked among the top four jazz festivals globally. Over the years, the festival has grown in scope and influence, attracting talent from overseas while nurturing local voices, and inviting collaborations that transcend genres. But more than its scale, it is the festival's soul that stands out, a soul rooted in inclusivity, heritage, and artistic freedom. Now in its 22nd edition, the CTIJF, known as Africa's grandest gathering, continues to honour its role as the largest jazz festival in Africa and one of the continent's most important cultural gatherings. This year's theme, 'Legacy Meets Tomorrow,' celebrated the festival's rich heritage and its evolving future. It showcased both legendary artists, like Masego and the emotional return of Lira to the stage, representing a bridge between the past and future, incorporating both the traditional and modern. Black Coffee and Nduduzo Makhathini closed their show strongly, elevating the spirit of CTIJF to new heights. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers Thousands of people from across the globe attended the CTIJF 2025 where top local and international artists took to the stage. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers Part concert, part ritual: Thandiswa Mazwai mesmerises the crowds at the 22nd Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers The future of jazz is dynamic, diverse, and genre-fluid. While jazz remains the foundation and heart, it invites experimentation and creation with R&B, Soul, House, Afrobeat, Hip-Hop, Spirituals, and more. From the power of Thandiswa Mazwai's voice to groundbreaking collaborations between Nduduzo Makathini and Black Coffee, to the resonance of Bongeziwe Mabandla, the CTIJF speaks to everyone. The CTIJF reminds us that jazz still does what it has always done best, bringing people together. It creates a space where the past and future sit side by side, listening, learning, and playing in harmony. This is why jazz matters, and why it continues to move generations, even as its sound transforms and evolves. Life is so good together. * Rayhaan Survé is the Deputy Chairman of Sekunjalo. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.
IOL News
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Cape Town International Jazz Festival: Where Legacy Meets Tomorrow
The Cape Town International Jazz Festival bridges the past and future, celebrating the rich legacy of jazz as a powerful voice for freedom and unity, writes Sekunjalo Deputy Chairman Rayhaan Survé. Image: Independent Media Rayhaan Survé For some, jazz is a rhythm that unlocks joy. For others, it is the sound of resistance, a voice when words fail, a melody infused with pain and hope. For me, jazz is freedom. It is a global language that crosses borders, cultures, and time zones, one that speaks of unity, memory, and possibility. The legacy of jazz is inseparable from humanity's most defining struggles and triumphs. From its beginnings in New Orleans in the 20th century to its arrival and integration with Marabi in South Africa, jazz has always stood as both witness and participant in history. Viewed by the apartheid regime as subversive, jazz was heavily policed, censored, and pushed underground. Musicians and gatherings were targeted, yet the music endured, in townships and homes, becoming a symbol of unity and resistance. Lira delivered a powerful and emotional performance on the Kippies stage on the final night of the 22nd Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Icons like Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Abdullah Ibrahim, Caiphus Semenya, and Letta Mbulu carried the torch of liberation through their music that captured both the pain of oppression and the dream of a free South Africa. Globally, musicians such as Carlos Santana and Harry Belafonte also stood in solidarity with South Africa, proving that jazz and resistance knew no borders. The movement 'Artists Against Apartheid' united voices against racial injustice from South Africa to around the world including the United Kingdom and USA. The values that jazz represented through the 1900s: freedom of expression, unity, and creativity, are the very values that I hold dear and why we, as the Survé Family, continue to support The Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF).The festival has continued to bring together people of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds to celebrate Jazz and what it means. It is the music of emotional honesty, of individuality within harmony. The crowd feeds off the energy brought by Masego, as the multi-instrumentalist moved around the Kippies stage at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival on Friday evening. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers We have played a key role in keeping jazz alive worldwide, with the festival ranked among the top four jazz festivals globally. Over the years, the festival has grown in scope and influence, attracting talent from overseas while nurturing local voices, and inviting collaborations that transcend genres. But more than its scale, it is the festival's soul that stands out, a soul rooted in inclusivity, heritage, and artistic freedom. Now in its 22nd edition, the CTIJF, known as Africa's grandest gathering, continues to honour its role as the largest jazz festival in Africa and one of the continent's most important cultural gatherings. This year's theme, 'Legacy Meets Tomorrow,' celebrated the festival's rich heritage and its evolving future. It showcased both legendary artists, like Masego and the emotional return of Lira to the stage, representing a bridge between the past and future, incorporating both the traditional and modern. Black Coffee and Nduduzo Makhathini closed their show strongly, elevating the spirit of CTIJF to new heights. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers Thousands of people from across the globe attended the CTIJF 2025 where top local and international artists took to the stage. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers Part concert, part ritual: Thandiswa Mazwai mesmerises the crowds at the 22nd Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers The future of jazz is dynamic, diverse, and genre-fluid. While jazz remains the foundation and heart, it invites experimentation and creation with R&B, Soul, House, Afrobeat, Hip-Hop, Spirituals, and more. From the power of Thandiswa Mazwai's voice to groundbreaking collaborations between Nduduzo Makathini and Black Coffee, to the resonance of Bongeziwe Mabandla, the CTIJF speaks to everyone. The CTIJF reminds us that jazz still does what it has always done best, bringing people together. It creates a space where the past and future sit side by side, listening, learning, and playing in harmony. This is why jazz matters, and why it continues to move generations, even as its sound transforms and evolves. Life is so good together. * Rayhaan Survé is the Deputy Chairman of Sekunjalo. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL or Independent Media.
IOL News
12-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
From Russia with Resonance: Igor Butman Quartet's Triumph at CTIJF 2025
Igor Butman Quartet on the Rosies stage during the 22nd Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers Among the many great performances at the 2025 Cape Town International Jazz Festival, the Igor Butman Quartet carved out a space entirely their own — a realm defined by dazzling virtuosity and the profound art of musical conversation. This performance stood among the most outstanding of the festival. For Igor Butman, Russia's world-renowned tenor saxophonist, playing at this iconic gathering fulfilled a long-held dream. Speaking ahead of his set, he described the opportunity to perform at the CTICC as a 'dream come true.' That sense of awe and gratitude infused the evening — a set that transcended technical brilliance and became a living testament to music's universal spirit. At 63, Butman performed with stamina and expressive breadth that defied expectation. His saxophone tone shifted seamlessly between mischievous play, aching nostalgia, and jubilant celebration — sometimes all within a single phrase. So many dizzying ingredients, so many energetic yet tendered bursts, that one was left wondering whether Butman was not receiving his oxygen and life force from some otherworldly source. He was joined by a trio of fellow maestros: Oleg Akkuratov (piano and vocals), Nikolay Zatolochny (double bass), and Eduard Zizak (drums). Together they fashioned a music of dialogue — listening, teasing, provoking, and elevating one another's ideas with intuitive mastery. Igor Butman Quartet on the Rosies stage during the 22nd Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers The set opened with "Falling Out", a spirited, mock argument between piano and saxophone — a musical skirmish that established the night's ethos of lively, unfolding conversation. Soon after, the quartet paid tribute to Russian popular memory with a high-energy interpretation of a beloved childhood animation theme. The piece was underpinned with intricate complexity, a fast-paced, almost march-like beat merging with soaring, high-energy saxophone runs. Butman's phrasing captured both innocence and sophisticated wit, while Akkuratov's piano painted vivid flashes of nostalgia. Zizak's drumming provided the kinetic heart of the evening — explosive yet precise, elastic yet controlled. His dynamic sensitivity gave the quartet's music urgency without ever overpowering its inner lyricism. A soulful rendering of "Mississippi Dreams" revealed the group's lyrical tenderness. Akkuratov's velvet-fingered piano wove meditative, resonant lines across the soundscape, while Zatolochny's bass shaped the harmonic ground with understated authority. Blind from birth, Akkuratov's playing rose from a profound internal vision, sculpting emotion into every phrase. Midway through the performance, Akkuratov took the microphone to sing a slow Russian ballad. His voice, both fragile and resilient, carried the melody with understated sincerity. As the piece unfolded, the quartet's improvisational energy gradually transformed the texture: the ballad, initially tender and solemn, was underpinned by a reconstructive swing feel, infused with a rising pulse of high-energy rhythms and intricate interplay. This reconstruction allowed the piece to breathe and evolve, lifting it from its melancholic origins into a vibrant, shifting exploration. Later, a slow, saxophone-led piece, an original titled Nostalgia, unfolded with aching beauty. Butman's long, shimmering lines suspended time itself, floating over Akkuratov's delicate piano voicings and Zatolochny's lyrical bass murmurs. Nostalgia was followed by "I Love You Baby", another vivid showcase intercepted with magnificent solos, allowing each musician to stretch, provoke, and reflect in turn. In a moving gesture of connection to the Cape Town audience, Akkuratov also sang Malaika, the beloved Swahili love song. His careful pronunciation and heartfelt delivery created a rare moment of unguarded communion, a bridge between continents built through pure feeling. Igor Butman Quartet on the Rosies stage during the 22nd Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Image: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers The climactic moment arrived with Buratino — the Russian adaptation of Pinocchio. The quartet hurled themselves into a whirlwind of sound, Butman's saxophone darting and spiralling with gleeful abandon, Zizak's drumming erupting in controlled, volcanic bursts. The piece was frenetic, intricate, and exhilarating — a masterclass in creative abandon harnessed by sharp intellect. Throughout the evening, Zatolochny's bass grounded the ensemble's most daring flights with melodic strength and rhythmic surety, his playing the invisible architecture supporting the music's ever-changing forms. The Igor Butman Quartet achieved luminous artistry rarely encountered: transforming a concert into a living act of conversation — playful, profound, and intellectually exhilarating. Their performance stood as a radiant affirmation of jazz's highest purpose: to create living spaces where memory, imagination, culture, and spirit converge. Among the many voices and visions at the 2025 Cape Town International Jazz Festival, the Igor Butman Quartet lit up a space with world-class artistry that will not be easily forgotten. By Gillian Schutte
IOL News
05-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Reflections on the 22nd Cape Town International Jazz Festival
Phil Fearon, Steven Taylor and Hakeem Kae-Kazim attended the 22nd Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Image: Supplied I have been attending the Cape Town International Jazz Festival for many years now, well over 10 years I would say. I was introduced to the Jazz Festival by my good friend, Hollywood actor Hakeem Kae Kazim. When I attended my first Jazz Festival it was totally eye opening, it was not just Jazz at all but a coming together of different people from all walks of life as well as a mix of great music. Attending this years event, I expected the same as I had years before, but this year was extra special and was so much better than previous years. It just felt different in a good way. Everything ran smoothly, people were enjoying themselves and the line up was amazing. A nice mix of local and international artists. I believe it was the ladies who were part of putting this years Jazz Festival together and wow did they do a good job. This comes from exceptional leadership. I am talking about Dr Iqbal Survé; love him or hate him his leadership is helping to elevate so many people. In his companies what I like is that he gives people the opportunity to shine and prove themselves. If you fail, you try again but if you succeed, then the sky is the limit. It is through his leadership that events like this are successful. Steven Taylor with actress Lynn Whitefield at the Cape Town International Convention Centre to attend the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Image: Supplied When people are doing well and making a difference others seem to not like that and get jealous which sadly is part of how we are as humans, deep down inside we are like little children who throw a tantrum when others are doing better than us. But why do we do this? Seeing others succeed should motivate you to want to do better and to show that you also can succeed in life but trying to bring people down or throw others under the bus actually shows your true character and sadly that is not leadership qualities at all. Yes there is a time to stand up as a leader and to make tough calls but getting upset and trying to bring people down when they are succeeding and making a difference is no way to live a life. Let them succeed and you focus on you and your life. This years Cape Town International Jazz Festival was a massive success, International singer Phil Fearon joined me at the event with his daughter Danielle. It was their first time and they loved every moment of it. Phil Fearon was massive in the 80's and had hits like What do I do, Dancing Tight and others. He said it was one of the best events he had ever attended, this coming from an international artist who performs at events all the time. So next time we want to knock people like Dr Survé and others who are creating jobs and making a positive difference in the world, think about the impact this has on the many people working for his companies. If he fails, so do all those companies. This means more job losses, people not being able to provide for their families etc. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. 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Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Steven Taylor with Bluey from Incognito and Phil Fearon. Image: Supplied Let's support people who are trying to create jobs and make a difference in our society instead of trying to knock them down due to our own personal agendas. There are some amazing people working at the various companies, Lance Witten who has worked his way up to become Editor at IOL, an incredible talent. Viasen Soobramoney who is now head of content, Shakeera Adams who did an amazing job as Head of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival showing that ladies are capable. Well done Shakeera. I can go on. We live in a negative world driven by hate and personal agendas. We can change this by being different and supporting those who are creating jobs and making a difference. We need positive change. Dr Survé can take all his billions and say I don't care about anyone anymore I am going to enjoy my life. He can close all his companies and live a very happy life. This will mean that over 10,000 people will lose their jobs. He doesn't do this – he continues to fight on and fight for those who work for him, giving opportunities where others wouldn't even bother. So thank you Dr Survé for being a leader amongst leaders. Steven Taylor with Lira. Image: Supplied
IOL News
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Work already under way for next year's Jazz Fest in March
South African rebel singer Thandiswa Mazwai on the Kippies stage during the 22nd Cape Town International Jazz Festival. Image: Armand Hough / Independent Newspapers The rhythm may have faded and the lights dimmed on this past weekend's Cape Town International Jazz Festival, but the energy is still pulsing through the city. With over 24 000 people in attendance, the Mother City was alive with music, connection, and culture - an unforgettable experience that left fans, artists, and industry leaders breathless. And just as the city starts to return to its usual tempo, espAfrika, the powerhouse organisers behind the festival, have dropped another beat: next year's festival will take place on March 27 and 28, 2026. Thousands of people from across the globe attended the CTIJF 2025 where top local and international artists took to the stage. Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers Diarise it now because if this year was anything to go by, next year promises to be even more spectacular. Pulling off a festival of this magnitude was no small feat. It took grit, grace, and sheer determination - and the exceptional team of women behind the scenes delivered with brilliance. 'This year's festival was a labour of love, a celebration of resilience and a return to what we know Cape Town does best - host the world with style, sound and soul,' said Shaakirah Adams, head of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival. 'The response has been overwhelming - from sold-out shows to the electric social media buzz. We are proud, we are grateful, and we are already planning how to make next year even more unforgettable. 'The response has been nothing short of phenomenal: glowing reviews, wall-to-wall crowds, and social feeds exploding with praise. But none of it would be possible without the unwavering support of our partners, sponsors, and most importantly, the vision and backing of the Survé family. As owners of the festival, the Survé family - and in particular, Rayhaan Survé, who played a critical oversight role - have been deeply involved in both planning and execution." Their commitment to the arts is not just symbolic; it's part of a far-reaching philanthropic mission that stretches across the African continent. Black Coffee and Nduduzo Makhathini closed their show strongly, elevating the spirit of CTIJF to new heights. Image: Armand Hough/Independent Newspapers 'People always asked me what the jazz festival is really about. For the first time, I don't have to tell them. On Friday, the collaboration between Nduduzo Makhatini and Black Coffee showcased jazz as the foundation that invited all genres of music onto the stage." "On Saturday, Thandiswa Mazwai led a spiritual awakening of 7 000 people, some of whom have never experienced South African culture. This past weekend captured a transition of the festival to become so much more than an event but a reconnection to cultural identity across generations, genres and demographics. " "The CTIJF truly captures all that we hope to achieve as a country,' said Rayhaan speaking on behalf of the Survé family.
