Alexander Sudheim
A WELCOME change of location from the formal feel of last year’s event at the Natal Playhouse, the BAT Centre in Durban proved an inspired choice for the 1996 JPS Jazz Festival. At least 1 000 people visited on each of the three days to take in the likes of Bayete, Johnny Fourie, Ray Phiri, Sipho Gumede and Sandile Shange.
Seminal moments included Bayete’s electrifying performance on a floating crane in the harbour (an added edge was provided by a terrace in danger of collapsing under the weight of the dancing crowd); the finals of the nationwide JPS Jazz Competition, with local favourites Stax taking home the R8 000 first prize; and the grande finale Night of Legends Concert on Sunday night, where guitar guru Sandile Shange was inducted into the JPS Hall of Fame. Shange is one of the great jazz guitarists in the world today, and has worked on over 13 albums in a career that has spanned 40 years, so the recognition is long overdue.
It remains, however, true to the blues that a guitarist of his stature should be, in his own words, “starving as a musician”. Unfortunately, the Hall of Fame award has no money attached.
Night of Legends starred a sublime grouping of Shange, Darius Brubeck, the George Hayden Orchestra and Afro Cool Concept, featuring the astounding saxophonist Barney Rachabane. All in all, the festival was a sublime opportunity for musicians and the public alike to fall in love.