/ 5 April 2013

Ten of the festival best

Thandiswa Mazwai
Thandiswa Mazwai

Louis Moholo 4 Blokes and 1 Girl (Rosies Stage, Friday, 11pm to midnight): Why? As Louis Armstrong once said: “If you have to ask, you’ll never know.”

Steve Turre Quintet (Rosies Stage, Friday 12.30am to 1.30am): The Mexican-American trombonist was inspired by Rahsaan Roland Kirk to spread the sound of seashells across jazz stages. Whether on ’bone or shell, he presents smart, compelling music.

Thandiswa Mazwai (Kippies Stage, Saturday 5.15pm to 6.15pm): Ridiculously early set time for our most genuine most conscious, Afro-jazz vocalist and composer.

Portico Quartet (Moses Molelekwa Stage, Saturday 9.15pm to 10.30pm): Minimalism meets African-inspired rhythms and chants in this London-based electro-jazz outfit who, they’ve said, make music “free to do whatever the fuck you want”.

Gregory Porter (Moses Molelekwa Stage, Saturday 7.30pm to 8.45pm): A classic jazz voice and innovative, self-penned songs with thought-provoking lyrics.

Dainius Pulauskas Group (Basil “Manenberg” Coetzee Stage, Saturday 6.30pm to 7.30pm): If the Cape Doctor doesn’t blow away his delicate sounds, Lithuanian pianist Pulauskas has a highly distinctive composer’s vision that shares roots with the legendary Ganelin Trio.

MF Doom with the Robert Glasper Experiment (Moses Molelekwa Stage, Saturday 11.15pm to 12.15am): Glasper made many South African friends with his knockout 2011 performance at the festival. The award-winning Black Radio sealed the deal. What will be intriguing is whether the rapper behind the mask is the real Doom or one of his body doubles.

Cheikh Lo (Basil “Manenberg” Coetzee Stage, Saturday 9.15pm to 12.30am): Dreads and the patched robes of a Baye Fall disciple will whirl as Lo sings praises to his marabout and calls for action to end suffering. You can dance to it too.

Jack de Johnette with Joe Lovano and Matt Garrison (Rosies Stage, Saturday 10.45pm to midnight): (See Louis Moholo above.)

Ben Sharpa and Pure Solid (Bassline Stage, Saturday 10pm to 11.15pm): Soweto, Chicago and Cape Town meet in this pairing of the Kaptin’s challenging freestyling and Pure Solid’s cool electro-dub.