Saxophonist Robbie Jansen is in a stable but critical condition in the Tygerberg hospital after collapsing into a coma on Monday.
Jansen, considered by many to be a guru of Cape jazz, is affectionately known as the Cape Doctor — after the south-easter — for his blowing skills.
The musician was found by his daughter, Rene, on the floor of his Elsie’s River home and rushed to the casualty unit of the hospital.
”Robbie has had lung problems for a long period,” his brother, Bevil Jansen, said on Saturday. ”He has found it difficult to breathe and cannot walk long distances.”
Jansen said his brother was very busy last weekend.
”On Saturday he played two gigs and on Sunday, I think it was three. It was maybe too much for him.”
Bevil said his brother cannot stop playing the saxophone, even with his emphysema, because it is his livelihood.
”You don’t work, you get no money,” he said.
According to Tygerberg hospital senior medical officer Dr R Thomson, Jansen has been moved from the trauma unit to the respiratory unit and is on a ventilator.
”There has been no improvement since he arrived in the unit on Thursday,” he said.
The last official bulletin issued by the hospital described his condition as ”stable but critical”.
Jansen’s daughter said she saw her father on Friday night and that he was ”looking better, but he is still in a coma”.
”Jansen is not only a fine musician but also an important cultural figure,” said Mountain Records MD Patrick Lee-Thorp.
He has recorded with many big names in the local music scene and has released two solo albums.
”We are praying for his health to be returned to him,” Lee-Thorp said. — Sapa