Joining a host of stars already announced are: hip hop artist Mick Jenkins (USA) who will add some up-beat tempo to the proceedings, combining his acid jazz sound with lacerating lyricism; and home crew collective Beat Bangaz (SA), (DJ ReadyD, DJ E20 and DJ Azuhl) who will hold the crowd spellbound with their energy, mixes and polished sound that has seen them tour locally and internationally over the past two decades.
Influencing the CTIJF line-up with a spiced infusion of Turkish-inspired jazz is Ilhan Ersahin’s Istanbul Sessions (Turkey), where musicianship meets eclecticism, giving true meaning to the ‘east-west crossover’ cliché.
Completing the line-up for the 2016 CTIJF is the violinist, composer and arranger Hicham Telmoudi (Morocco), who weaving magic with strings and bow, breathes new life into the mystique of traditional Moroccan sounds from the North to the South of the country.
It would be remiss not to mention the Cape Town born Lana Crowster (SA) in this final announcement. Lana has been selected as the overall winner of espYoungLegends, espAfrika’s new initiative. She will be holding sway over the Bassline Stage during the upcoming festival, which is destined to be a truly memorable affair in 2016.
“Whether you are a jazz purist or someone looking for the greatest getaway and a weekend of fun and music, this year’s CTIJF line-up has something for everyone,” commented Festival Director Billy Domingo.
“We wanted to expand the festival’s African repertoire and I believe we have done this with the addition of the four aforementioned acts, while at the same time, we need to heed the calls from patrons for stylised rhythmic music that conveys the messages of today’s life commentators and poets, represented by Beat Bangaz and Mick Jenkins. The addition of Lana to the mix is an added bonus for our discerning Festinos, who deserve nothing less than it all.”
There are only limited tickets available to book your place at this year’s Grandest Gathering at the Cape Town International Convention Centre on April 1 and 2, so speed is of the essence – www.computicket.com
The official sponsors for the 17th annual Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2016 are: the Department of Arts and Culture, Independent Media and PRASA. Other sponsors include the City of Cape Town, Johnny Walker, Amstel and South African Tourism.
