Jazz musician Robbie Jansen was in a critical but stable condition on Tuesday after he collapsed at home last week from lung problems, his brother said.
”They have been trying to wean him down [from the ventilator] from Saturday, but they put him back on it last night because he is still too weak. They will wait for him to get a bit stronger,” his brother Bevil said.
He is still in the intensive-care unit of the respiratory section of Cape Town’s Tygerberg hospital.
”We are getting support, people are saying a lot of prayers,” said his brother.
Jansen, who plays a variety of instruments, most famously the saxophone, and also sings, has emphysema that has worsened over the past two years.
Mountain Records MD Patrick Lee-Thorp said as word of Jansen’s illness got out, messages of support were coming in from record companies in Canada, Germany and Switzerland.
His forthcoming tour of France will probably be cancelled, Lee-Thorp said.
Jansen’s career has included playing with the bands Pacific Express, Spirits Rejoice, Workforce, the alto-sax on the classic Dollar Brand song Mannenberg, a stint with Basil Coetzee, who also played on Mannenberg, and his band Sabenza.
His latest band is Robbie Jansen and the Sons of Table Mountain.
His debut solo was Vastrap Island, with his latest album being The Cape Doctor. He has also accompanied many of South Africa’s major jazz musicians and singers. — Sapa