Cape Town South Africa

The 2010 Cape Town International Jazz Festival might still be way off in the distant, faintly glimmering future (the date is set for Saturday 03 and Sunday 04 April – coinciding with Easter), but the organisers have already whet our appetites by releasing the line-up of impressive artists who will be performing at the 11^th annual festival.

Although every single performer on the list is exceptionally talented and of a world class calibre, let’s drop the superstar names first and introduce veteran jazz pianist and winner of multiple Grammy Awards, McCoy Tyner. Renowned in the 1960s for playing piano for saxophonist John Coltrane and featuring on many of Coltrane’s recordings, 71-year old Tyner is a prolific recording artist in his own right – having released three CDs in the last two years. He has also been credited for being one of the first jazz musos to reintroduce African rhythms into jazz.

Also gracing the stage at next year’s jazz fest will be jazz violinist Regina Carter and jazz songbird Rachelle Ferrell. But not all the acts will be imported. Part of what has made the festival so successful thus far is its nice blend of international and local acts. Therefore some of our own greats will also hit the stage to represent the homeland and at what has been touted to be the continent’s Grandest Gathering.

South Africans that will be performing include pianist Tete Mbambisa, guitarist and crooner Jonathan Butler, Amanda Tiffan, The Glenn Robertson Jazz Band, Iridium Project, Musa Manzini, Sammy Hartman Project with Robbie Jansen & Ezra Ngcukana, Selaelo Selota, Stix Hojeng and the man otherwise known as “The Voice”, Vusi Mahlasela.

Internationals include US trumpeter Rick Braun, Scottish saxophonist Richard Elliott – both of whom will perform with our own Butler. Toots Thielemans will come out from his native Belgium, Mezzoforte from Iceland will melt our hearts and Michaela Rabitz & Robert Pawlik Quartet will be here from Austria.

The rest of the line-up will be announced at the beginning of 2010. Ticket prices will be R330 for a single day pass and R485 for a weekend pass. Patrons who wish to attend concerts on the Rosies stage will have to pay an additional R25 for every act they wish to see on that stage.

The Grand Daddy Hotel in Long Street has just introduced another unique venue to give the establishment even more of a twist: The Pink Flamingo Rooftop Cinema.

Set among seven vintage Airstream trailers (which have been turned into hotel rooms by seven local artists), cinema-goers will be able to experience the stars of contemporary classic films under the stars of Cape Town’s night sky.

Twice weekly, on Thursday and Sunday nights at 19:30, the Flamingo will screen films. Good news is that this 35 seat open-air cinema won’t shut down during the winter months. It is heated and cooled, making it a year-round experience.

Ticket prices are R50 or R200. Included in the R50 ticket is the admission, a cone containing sweets, a welcome drink and a choice between an Eskimo Pie, pop corn or candy floss. The R200 ticket will secure attendees all the aforementioned plus a comfortable, front row couch and a private cooler box with a selection of drinks.

Drinks will be served at the Airstream Penthouse Trailer Park’s Sky Bar before and after the show.

For more information on current and upcoming movie screenings and about how to book tickets, visit the Pink Flamingo’s website or phone +27 (0)21 424 7247.