Peter Makurube Music
The last Standard Bank Jazz Festival of the century will be the biggest and the best. The line-up of stars billed for Moretele Park in Mamelodi on December 12 sizzles with the cream of African and American music. The senior citizens of sound – Hugh Masekela, Jonas Gwangwa, Miriam Makeba, Caiphus Semenya and The Crusaders – all have a history that stretches back almost 35 years.
The visit by the Crusaders will mark a high point in the proceedings that’ll take place on two stages, with musicians from both sides of the Atlantic. Meanwhile, the likes of Moses Molelekwa, Zim Ngqawana, McCoy Mrubata, Jimmy Dludlu (with Ray Phiri), Wendy Mseleku and Tshepo Tshola should pull in the young, hip set.
The west stage will show the classics, while the east stage will be devoted to the youngsters. Musicians from further afield include Samul-nori of Korea. At the same time local moves will come from traditional Sepedi, Ndebele, Sesotho and Setswana dancers.
The African continent is further represented by Cameroonian singer Sally Nyolo, whose music is little known in South Africa. Nyolo comes from a country with a great musical legacy, personified by the legendary Manu Dibango.
This is not the first international jazz festival sponsored by the Standard Bank this year. In April they had trumpeter Duke Jones at Mmabatho, Swedish band Corpo was at the State Theatre for the Joy of Jazz series. Malian superstar Salif Keita played at the Jazz By The River concert in September with American singer Cynthia Dewberry. And last month Zimbabwe’s Chiwoniso played in Bloemfontein.
For decades corporate South Africa ignored music while pumping millions into sport. But these days Standard Bank is working with major music promoter Peter Tladi of the company T Musicman and Joe Chakela. It took three years before the bank allowed T Musicman to stage international shows of this nature, preferring to limit them to homegrown talent.
Jazz development workshops initiated by T Musicman have helped many young musicians to hone their skills and share the stage with world stars like Hugh Masekela, Letta Mbulu and Miriam Makeba, among others. Wherever the festival goes, workshops conducted by teacher and trumpeter Johnny Mekoa are held.
Musicians are not the only beneficiaries of T Musicman’s largesse. Up-and-coming promoters in these outlying areas have also benefited from skills they receive in the course of their work with staff members of the company.
Apart from live music promotions, T Musicman also manages top acts like Wendy Mseleku, Masekela, Tshepo Tshola, Mbulu, Semenya and gospel sensations Lundi and Rebecca Malope.
Also at Moretele Park, the day before the main festival, on December 11, all winners of music workshops held throughout the year will meet for a final battle of the bands. The winner will, according to Peter Tladi, “represent the culmination of national jazz development over the past year – and in terms of musical and artistic excellence, the future of jazz in South Africa”.
Ulibambe Linga Shoni begins at midday at Moretele Park on December 11. Tickets are R100 at the gate and R85 at Computicket. The Battle of the Bands begins at midday at Moretele Park on December 11. See the Crusaders and Dan Siegel at Vodaworld in Midrand on December 10 and 11 from 8pm. For more information, call T Musicman. Tel: (011) 482-3667.