Cape Town International Jazz Festival

Cape Town International
Jazz Festival
Genre Jazz, funk, afropop, fusion, soul, R&B, and many more
Dates Annually in March/April
Location(s) Cape Town
Years active 2000–present
Founded by North Sea Jazz Festival
Website
capetownjazzfest.com

The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is an annual music festival held in Cape Town, South Africa. The first one was held in 2000[1] to 2005[2] and is recognised as the fourth largest jazz festival in the world[3] and the largest jazz festival on the African continent.[4] The festival used to be called the Cape Town North Sea Jazz Festival due to its association with the North Sea Festival in the Netherlands.[5][6]

History

The Cape Town International Jazz Festival started in 2000[1][7] as part of the North Sea Jazz Festival. This was part of an arrangement that came about as a result of the partnership between espAfrika (a South African events management company) and Mojo Concerts BV, the founders of the Dutch North Sea Jazz Festival.[2] It was the first time that a jazz festival with four simultaneous legs took place in South Africa.[7] The festival occurred ever year until 2005 as the North Sea Jazz Festival.[2] Thereafter, from 2005 onwards, the festival was renamed to the Cape Town International Jazz Festival due to the partnership failing.[2][8] The festival has grown since it first started in 2000, and as a result, attendance has also grown from 14,000 concert goers in 2000 to 34,000 concert goers in 2013.[9] From its inception to 2003, the event was held at the Good Hope Centre but it outgrew the venue, so from 2004, the festival has since been hosted at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.[10]

Mojo/espAfrika lawsuit

In 2000, the North Sea Jazz Festival came to Cape Town, South Africa for the first time.[1] From 2000 to 2005, the festival was marketed as the North Sea Jazz Festival as part of a contract between espAfrika and Mojo Concerts.[8][11] The plan was for Mojo Concerts to provide the necessary infrastructure for a world class African Jazz Festival, so as soon as that happened, Mojo Concerts took espAfrika to court.[8] They filed for espAfrika's liquidation to consolidate a €500,000 debt[8] that had been incurred over the 5 year contract. On 26 April 2005, a settlement was reached outside of court in which the debt was consolidated and espAfrika was able to continue with the festival, now under the name of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival.[8][12]

Previous editions of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival

The 2007 edition of the festival was endorsed by Cape Town's Mayor Helen Zille.[13] The 2010 edition of the festival contributed R 740 million directly to the Western Cape's GDP.[2] For an extra R25.00 per show, music enthusiasts gain access to the Rosies Stage[6] which features more relaxed, acoustic Jazz Music.[14] Every year just before the main event, a free open-air concert with selected performers is held at the Greenmarket Square.[6][9][14][15]

Cape Town International Jazz Festival by year
Year Date Venue Notable performers
2000[11] 31 March and 1 April Good Hope Centre Herbie Hancock, Youssou N'Dour, Courtney Pine, Moses Taiwa Molelekwa, Hugh Masekela, Busi Mhlongo, Interzone
2001[16][17] 30 & 31 March Good Hope Centre Marcus Miller, Mal Waldron, Zuco 103, Sibongile Khumalo, Don Laka, Bill Bruford Earthworks
2002[18] 30 & 31 March Good Hope Centre Spyro Gyra, Ahmad Jamal, Toots Thielemans, Andy Narell, Tower of Power, Louis Mhlanga, Judith Sephuma, McCoy Mrubata
2003[19] 28 & 29 March Good Hope Centre Eumir Deodato, Isaac Hayes, Osibisa, Andreas Vollenweider, Jonas Gwangwa, India.Arie, Archie Shepp, Pieces of a Dream, Moses Khumalo, Floetry
2004[20] 10 & 11 April Cape Town International Convention Centre Stanley Clarke, Miriam Makeba, Cassandra Wilson, Abdullah Ibrahim
2005[5] 30 and 31 March Cape Town International Convention Centre 340ml, Cesária Évora, Bobo Stenson, Dhafer Youssef, Transglobal Underground, Dave Holland
2006[4] 31 March & 1 April Cape Town International Convention Centre Miriam Makeba, Chucho Valdés, Freddy Cole, Louie Vega, Sipho Mabuse, Paul Hanmer
2007[13] 30 & 31 March Cape Town International Convention Centre Average White Band, Gino Vannelli, Leela James, The Stoner, Saskia Laroo, Hip Hop Pantsula
2008[15] 28 & 29 March Cape Town International Convention Centre Ananda Project, Gerald Albright, Kenny Barron Trio, Oliver Mtukudzi, Najee, The Manhattans, Zola
2009[6][21] 3 & 4 April Cape Town International Convention Centre Mos Def, 340ml, Hugh Masekela, Freshlyground, Dianne Reeves, Maceo Parker, Peter White
2010[14] 3 & 4 April Cape Town International Convention Centre BLK JKS, Rick Braun, Vusi Mahlasela, TKZee, Richard Elliot, Rachelle Ferrell
2011[22] 25 & 26 March Cape Town International Convention Centre Al Di Meola, Angie Stone, Hugh Masekela, Miriam Makeba, Herbie Hancock, Erykah Badu
2012[23] 30 & 31 March Cape Town International Convention Centre Lauryn Hill, Mike Stern, James Ingram, Zahara, Dave Koz, Jean Grae, GoodLuck, Lenny White, Donald Harrison, Ron Carter
2013[9] 5 & 6 April Cape Town International Convention Centre Ravi Coltrane, Steve Turre, Mafikizolo, Robert Glasper, Matt Garrison, Buena Vista Social Club

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "The Cape Town International Jazz Festival – Events – South African Tourism". Southafrica.net. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "The Cape Town International Jazz Festival History". espAFRIKA. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  3. ↑ Berkowitz, Paul (2013-04-03). "Maverick interview: Rashid Lombard". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2013-04-13.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Cape Town International Jazz Festival - 2006". music.org.za. 24 Nov 2005. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "2005 Cape Town International Jazz Festival: Africa's Grandest Gathering". allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 "Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2009". capetownmagazine.com. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 "The North Sea Jazz Festival (31 March – 1 April) starts in Cape Town. It is the first time a jazz festival on four simultaneo | South African History Online". Sahistory.org.za. 2000-03-31. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 Iain Harris. "Town International Jazz Festival 2005". coffeebeansroutes.com. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 "Cape Town International Jazz Festival Formerly: North Sea Jazz Festival Cape Town". apassion4jazz.net. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  10. ↑ "North Sea Jazz Festival". Western Cape Provincial Government. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "North Sea jazz fest comes to Cape Town". City Press. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  12. ↑ Karen Breytenbach. "Cape Town jazz festival saved". iol.com. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Taryn-Lee Biggar. "Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2007". mio.co.za. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 "Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2010". tajcapetown.co.za. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2008". capetownmagazine.com. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  16. ↑ "The African Harvest North Sea Jazz Festival". Die Burger. 2001-03-08. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  17. ↑ "Fasten your belts, you're going to get blown away". City Press. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  18. ↑ "Jazz festival for Cape Town". News24. 2002-01-30. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  19. ↑ "North Sea Jazz Festival Cape Town 2003". artlink.co.za. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  20. ↑ "North Sea Jazz Festival, Cape Town 2004". music.org.za. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
  21. ↑ "Line-Up for Cape Town's International Jazz Festival 2009". capetownmagazine.com. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
  22. ↑ "Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2011". wordtravels.com. Retrieved 2013-04-15.
  23. ↑ "Line-up for Cape Town International Jazz Festival 2012". capetownmagazine.com. Retrieved 2013-04-16.

External links