The organiser of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival announces the espYoungLegends Top 20.
|||Cape Town– espAfrika, the organiser of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) has announced the shortlisted entries from their espYoungLegends competition.
Launched in December 2015, the competition, is a brand new initiative from espAfrika and a highlight to the annual festival calendar. espYoungLegends search for promising independent jazz-inspired artists and bands, where the winner will perform at the CTIJF 2016 in April this year.
The competition aims to boost the careers of young musicians through valuable performance experience. This forms part of espAfrika’s long term aim to support and develop local talent that can contribute to a thriving and sustainable entertainment industry.
“We were overwhelmed by the number and quality of entries we received which came in from across the country” said music impresario Bev Scott-Brown, herself a seasoned performer who has co-ordinated the search. Scott-Brown’s musical ear along with Festival Director, Billy Domingo’s innate ability to spot performance talent, have now narrowed the entries down to a shortlist of 20 eager musical groups.
Domingo, who has over 40 years’ experience in the music industry, is passionate about providing spaces and opportunities for the next generation of entertainment professionals. With the espYoung Legends initiative, he hopes to not only give a performance opportunity to an aspiring act, but also expose unfound talent to a broader South Africa. “Now it is the public’s turn to see what musical genius we have right here at home. By going to the website and listening to each of the bands on offer, we hope that we will be creating new fans for some of these guys and helping them establish themselves” said Domingo.
The final five will be determined and announced on 8 February 2016, from which a panel (including Camillo Lombard, Donveno Prins and DJ Easy), will choose the winner who will then be revealed to the public on 11 February 2016.
It’s Up To You!
Members of the public are actively encouraged to help our young artists grow with performance experience. Vote for your favourite #espYL2016 hopeful to secure their spot in the Top 5. Go to www.espafrika.com/Top-20 to cast your vote. The band with the highest number of public votes will be assured a position in the Top 5.
Want to see the winner live in concert? Go to www.computicket.com to book your tickets.
• Follow espAfrika on social media for more #espYL2016 updates
• www.facebook.com/espafrika
• www.twitter.com/espafrika
• www.espafrika.com
• official hashtag: #espYL2016
The top 20:
The Winston Siljeur Project – founded over a decade ago by Winston Siljeur (artist, pianist, accompanist, session musician, musical director, composer, arranger, producer, music theory and piano practical teacher), the project is a large band sound covering a diverse array of musical genres, although preferring to perform their own original compositions.
Nono Nkoane – accomplished performer, jazz singer and composer from kwaLanga, Cape Town, Nono was immersed in music culture from an early age. Nono has found herself on many great stages with many great performers sharing the stage with the likes of Jimmy Dludlu, Judith Sephuma, Bra Hugh Masekela, Dizu Plaatjies, Ernie Smith, Lungiswa Plaatjies, The late Mirriam Makeba and Jabu Khanyile, and many more.
Jazzinco – a high energy entertainment solution consisting of Band Leader Marvin-Lee Presens, a multi-skilled musician and the group’s keyboards man, his brother Gregory Presens on bass, JP Antha on drums and the honeyed voice of Janeli Steyn
Nostalgic – a band of young people who stand for more than music and who are passionate about their community. Formed by lead guitarist Giovanni Londt in December 2014, he is joined by Keenan Jacobs on base guitar, Travis McGee on Drums, and a duo of talented vocalists in the form of Sammy-Joe and Kimmy.
Lana Crowster – singer, songwriter, arranger, actress, MC and entrepreneur, Lana’s vocals effortlessly and artistically convey the story of life as seen from her perspective – the highs and the low – taking her audience on a musical journey that is pure alchemy.
Project Escape – music teacher, poetess, composer and vocal performer, Marcé Underwood, fronts the Project Escape trio to help audiences transcend the mundane and arrive at a place where music is poetry and poetry is music to the ears.
Coda Africa - Zami Mdingi (vocals), Galina Juritz (electric violin), Carol Thorns (electric cello), Judy Brown (sax) and DJ LuvChild. Fronted by powerful vocalist Zami Mdingi, CODA Africa combines electric strings (violin and cello) with saxophone and DJ. Their signature ensemble traverses different genres from Classically-inspired ballads to Electro-Swing, Dub Step, Reggae and Hip Hop. Countries the world over have enjoyed their dynamic and varied performances.
Mr Africa & The Comrades – Chadleigh Gowar (Mr Africa) has put together a group of talented musicians who explore the afro-jazz genre with original compositions with verve and smooth accomplishment.
Zingara - Born in Cape Town in 2013, the band is inspired by singer and songwriter Francesca Biancoli. Europe and African music meet together in a combination of Modern jazz and neo-soul. Joining vocalist Francesca are Nick Williams on bass and synths, Keenan Ahndreas on guitar and Marlon Witbooi on drums.
Technical Image - Moeketsi Nhlapo (bass guitarist), Tumelo Tshabalala (vocalist/rapper), Deli Msipha (vocalist), Bongani Khumalo (keyboards), and Lethokuhle Banda, on drums make up the band performing broad arrangements incorporating jazz, afro-jazz, funk, afro-pop, house, dance and soul and more.
Just 6 – a six-part contemporary a capella male ensemble from Gauteng. Mthandazo Hospa Sibanda (1st tenor), Luyanda Makapela (1st tenor), Rahsaka ‘Shakes’ Mbevhana (2nd tenor), Fezile Mavuso (2nd tenor), Nkosilathi ‘Nkosie’ Sibande (baritone) and Molefe Moeketsi (bass) make up the joyful group looking to unite all Africans through the power of song and their Afro-Cal-Play techniques.
Roshdien Jaz Live – ‘Mr Jaz’ as he is also known, is a popular and accomplished stage and screen actor and music artist whose upbeat fresh jazz inspired sounds have already seen a couple of top tens and elicited an international as well as local following. He will be launching his debut album – Gratitude Café – later in 2016.
Ncamisa Nqana - is a 23-year-old vocalist, songwriter, arranger and music teacher hailing from Mamelodi who has studied jazz at the Tshwane University of Technology. Fronting her quartet she eloquently performs original compositions influenced by jazz artists such as Ella Fitzgerald, Lindiwe Maxolo, Bheki Mseleku, Herbie Tsoaeli and Mirriam Makeba.
Nombungo & The Noted - is a quartet drawn together by their shared love for jazz and African rhythmic style music. Louis Sbusiso Mkonza (bass guitar), Portia Sithole (drummer), Nombongo (composer, lyricist and vocalist), Luyavuma ‘Lukes’ Mabuza (Pianist) present a sophisticated sound that demonstrates their love for their chosen genre.
Tshepo Fela - The master of liquid African jazz, Tshepo combines American jazz progressions and African vernacular influences from different cultures dipped in soulful melodies. “Music has NO gender, color, race or any politically selected language. It is a universal language spoken by the heart translated by use of melodies, rhythm and progressions”.
Rhythmic Soul - Rhythmic Soul is a fresh sounding young band playing mainly pop, jazz and RnB. Consisting of Dominico (keyboards) who quotes influences such as Charlie Parker, Chick Corea and Miles Davis; Stanley (drums); Kyle (trumpet); Kirsten (vocals) and band leader, Sean on bass guitar, who also spent time at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in the USA, and who has incorporated his learning into the band’s
Simply Sybz & the LoveOlution Band – Innovatively blending jazz and hip-hop genres, DJ Simply Sybz (Sibongiseni Tunzelana) through the band LoveOlution (love revolution) on a mission with her band members to promote Ubuntu among all the peoples of Africa through their isiXhosa sung tributes.
ND Project - Multi-awarded vocalist, piano, synth player and prolific composer Muriel Marco fronts this dynamic and diverse multi-national ensemble. Joining Muriel in her latest project are: Ronan Skillen (tablas and percussions), Shaun Johannes (bass and piano) and Vuyo Katsha (African percussionist). ND is in a class of their own when it comes to fusing jazz and African traditional sounds into a glorious polished sound.
ND also features Buddy Wells (soprano and tenor saxophone) and Neliswa Sampi (African vocals) and dancing as guest artists to add an even greater shine.
Kevin and the Love World Band – Kevin Maduna (band leader and vocalist) formed the band in 2013 after meeting Thato Leputu at college, who now plays(piano/keys) and directs the band’s music. They are joined by Obakeng Mabitsela(drums), Khutso Shalom Nkwana (Alto Saxophonist) and the rose of the group, Grace Makhetha (bass guitar) to perform a heady mixture of their own compositions to the sounds of contemporary jazz ‘with a twist’. They released their first single at the end of January 2016.
Under The Influence – a versatile jazz-fusion band that performs a variety of genres from jazz, swing, blues, funk, RnB, to pop and deep house yet still with their signature undercurrent of spell binding jazz. The members consist of Blake Hellaby (piano), Lumanyano ‘Unity’ Mzi (drums), Sean Sanby (double bass) and Matthew October (saxophone) with the uber talented 18-year-old Jesse Julies (alto saxophone). The band seeks to influence and move audiences through the musical stories they craft with their unique sound.
IOL, adapted from a press release