Don Albert
It’s alarming just how misunderstood jazz is in South Africa. Jazz is, after all, a form which provides the purveyor with basic as well as intangible rules. Unlike the 100m dash or an office memo, there is no specific format.
It’s amazing that everyone is a so called “classical music” listener; maybe that is because classical music is rated as “cultural”. They all accept an improvised cadenza, but cannot accept a jazz improvised solo.
I’ll keep the phenomenon of improvised music for another story because the thrust of this one is about the jazz listener being ignored by most of the media, especially TV.
There are no jazz programmes on the SABC services, and e.tv has a rehash of a jazz programme on a Sunday at 5am!
I am happy to advise that jazz is now available 24 hours a day on television at a cost of R270 a month. Arguably less than a movie and a meal for two.
BET International on DStv offers a series of programmes in a 12-hour block played twice a day, making up the 24 hours.
All genres of jazz and its peripheries are covered, such as R&B, Latin, worldbeat, hip-hop and gospel.
There are various segments on the jazz channel, some of which are self- explanatory, such as Jazz and Blues Videos and Latin Beat. Others include Jazz Central (an in-studio concert series featuring top names), Jazz Alley TV (interviews and live performances), Specials (an hour special featuring major artists and jazz festivals), Uncut (full-length performances and profiles) and Wolftrap (profiles on various artists about their life and music). Featured artists include Tito Puente, Chick Corea and BB King, among others.
South African music is also about to make its debut on BET International.
Paxton Baker, senior vice president of BET on Jazz told me: “More and more South African music will be programmed on the channel.”
BET have already started recording inserts at their Ruff Sessions. The last one took place at The Blues Room in Village Walk last month, featuring Moses Molelekwa, Louis Mahlanga, Gloria Bosman and Sani Gamedze.
Baker said: “People are fascinated by Cuba and South Africa. We are making initiatives with both countries, and while there are barriers with Cuba, there are none with South Africa.
“The music I have heard here is very cutting edge and very, very hip music. The music does not have to conform to any particular style. Jonathan Butler presents the world music programme, Musical Passport.
“I think South African music offers a lot, and that the unique opportunity here for both South Africa and BET, is that BET can be a conduit to present this music to the world. We hope to make a positive contribution to the betterment of this country [South Africa].”
George Amoah, managing director and senior vice president of BET International, said: “We are finding that people who work from home tend to leave BET on all day. When they hear something in the background that really grabs them, they take a few minutes to sit and watch.”
Although BET on Jazz has been available for a few years, the channel is not well known because DStv advertising has been geared towards movies, sport and the Discovery channel.
It’s important that jazz lovers know they have access to the music they love 24 hours-a-day, and there is no more passionate lover than a jazz lover! And you can BET on that.
Some of the highlights of BET International on Jazz for May include John Pizzarelli at the Montreal Jazz Festival, Antonio Carlos Jobim (both on May 16), Tony Bennett (May 18), Joe Williams and George Shearing (May 23), Mark Murphy (May 29), Louie Bellson and his Big Band, and New York Voices and Paul Simon at the Montreal Jazz Festival (both on May 30)