The acclaimed Cape Town International Jazz Festival, 15 years in existence, just gets bigger and better every year – and has proudly taken a keen interest in putting hip hop on the bill in recent years.
Providing a platform for new and exciting talent, this year queen of neo-soul, Erykah Badu leads the impressive line-up along with other acts such as Reason, The Muffinz, Foreign Exchange, Jonas Gwangwa, The Soil, Jimmy Nevis, Shane Cooper, Ological Studies, Soul Housing Project, Dr Philip Tabane, Malombo, Haitus Kaiyote, Ambrose Akinmusire Quintet, Kenny Garrett Quintet, Chris Dave and the Drumhedz, Rakesh Chaurasia & Friends (India), Snarky Puppy, Jaco Maria & Carmen Lundy (USA).
The CTIJF which is SA’s largest live music festival, takes place at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), 28-29 March 2014. CEO of organising committee, espAfrika, Rashid Lombard says this year’s line-up is great. “We’ve listened to our fans and we think we’ve got an even more exciting – and crowd-pleasing – festival. After all, it is called Africa’s grandest gathering.”
Supporting the festival and particularly in 2014 which marks South Africa’s 20th anniversary of freedom and democracy, Minister of Arts and Culture, Mr Paul Mashatile says: “The Cape Town International Jazz Festival is a great reflection of how far we have come as a nation. The festival showcases our brilliant local talent, while also attracting leading jazz artists from all over the world. This has allowed the CTIJF to help grow a larger skills base within our creative sector, which, in turn, helps strengthen and celebrate our cultural diversity.”
Patricia De Lille, Executive Mayor of Cape Town says: “The CTIJF helps bring people from diverse backgrounds together in a shared common love of jazz. In doing so, the festival helps to showcase the city and how its inclusive approach is of paramount importance. As such, the city salutes the 15th year of the CTIJF and will continue to support the good work this important music festival does.”
Tickets are on sale from Computicket. Prices are R795 for a weekend pass and R490 for a day pass