Moonchild. MonoNeon. Judith Sephuma. Mi Casa. Thandi Ntuli. Hilton Schilder. Tunde from Lighthouse Family. Mervyn Africa.
These are just some of the artists heading for the Mother City in May when the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) lights up the Cape Town International Convention Centre on May 3 and 4, 2024.
With a combination of African musical royalty tuning up alongside some of the world’s biggest names in the world of jazz and soul music, the 2024 festival – the first in four years after a pandemic-induced pause – looks set to be one of the most memorable.
'The 2024 festival experience is a nuanced anthem to where the world finds itself at present,' says Lindsay Rhoda, Head of Talent at espAfrika, founders and organisers of the CTIJF. 'At the crossroads of a new age, with a progression of artists adding their authentic and musical signatures to the messages of those who have already set the message.'
This year those signatures will include the smooth vocals of Tunde Baiyewu – most famous as part of UK group Lighthouse Family – and alternative R&B group Moonchild (USA). Also from across the Atlantic, Grammy-winning bassist virtuoso and experimental musician MonoNeon brings his unique existential jazz-funk to the party, whilst Francesca Biancoli adds a contemporary melding of jazz and neo-soul. Award-winning drummer and composer Darshan Doshi brings his trio to the Cape, featuring saxophonist Mark Hartsuch and bassist Tony Grey.
But South Africa is brimming with home-grown jazz talent, and some of Mzansi’s favourite sons and daughters will also be appearing.
Festival-goers can look forward to performances by the platinum-selling queen of Afro-jazz, Judith Sephuma, as well as songbird Ami Faku, star of The Voice SA.
Locals know and love the Hilton Schilder Quintet for their unique take on Cape Jazz, while the ever-popular Mi Casa up the energy with their new single, Who Cares’, with Malik Harris. On the Manenberg stage look forward to Amapiano/jazz crossover artist Daliwonga, Afro-house artist Mörda and the pulsing beats of the ever-energetic Mac G.
“This festival is one of the very few on the continent that conveys a comprehensive array of the jazz-genre’s multitude of layers and whose baseline of rhythm represents jazz’s complex foundations and traditions and its constant evolution,” says Rhoda.
And, in case you were confused by an earlier iteration of the 2024 festival, the organisers have (perhaps after an outcry from long-time jazz-lovers) reverted the stage names to the much-loved originals, so start planning your evening soaking up the tunes at the Kippies, Manenberg, Rosies and Moses Molelekwa stages.
General admission tickets cost R950 per night, with additional surcharge tickets (limited) required for specific shows. For the full line-up visit https://www.capetownjazzfest.com/. Tickets are on sale through Ticketmaster.
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