23 August 2006
The Minister of Arts and Culture, Dr Z Pallo Jordan is proud to announce the
launch of the historic national jazz orchestra to be known as the Cape Town
Jazz Orchestra. It will be led by none other than the internationally renowned
pianist, Abdullah Ibrahim.
The musical ensemble will be officially launched at a special occasion on 16
September 2006, as part of the month-long "our indigenous music" theme on
Heritage Month, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre from
20h00.
"We all know that South African music, especially jazz, is an established
brand all over the world. This initiative is not only to strengthen its
standing on the global stage but to create a link between the talented youth
and what has gone before and, at the same time, create opportunities for
musicians to take their rightful place in society. "Of course, we see the
orchestra not only inspiring pride and appreciation for indigenous musical
talent but encouraging our musicians to be dedicated professionals who use
artistic talent as a tool for economic self-liberation," said Minister
Jordan.
Significantly, the establishment of the Cape Town Jazz Orchestra marks the
culmination of a process that has seen the Department of Arts and Culture
implement a strategy to create sustainable arts companies that are reflective
of the diverse South African cultural heritage. It is for this reason that the
Department of Arts and Culture has worked closely with Ibrahim, who is widely
regarded as one of the few missing links between indigenous jazz artists of old
and the contemporary generation.
The Cape Town Jazz Orchestra joins an array of well-recognised art companies
like the KwaZulu-Natal Philharmonic Orchestra, South African Ballet Theatre and
Victory Songqoba Theatre Company, to name a few, that are at the forefront of
the re-invention of a new and vibrant South African arts that encapsulated the
diverse South African cultures. In fact, the Cape Town Jazz Orchestra will
become the third large scale Performing Arts Ensemble to receive an annual
grant from the state resources through the National Arts Council. Dr Abdullah
Ibrahim has already established a Section 21 company that will be responsible
for the management and administrative affairs of the orchestra.
Members of the media are invited to attend the gala event and the first ever
public performance by this 18-piece Big Band that will perform not only with
the piano maestro himself, Dr Ibrahim, but with a line-up that includes
arranger Steve Gray and Horace Alexander Young. The Jazz Orchestra will be
conducted by Melvin Peters who is its Musical Director.
Details:
Date: 16 September 2006
Time: 20h00
Venue: Cape Town International Convention Centre
Enquires:
Sandile Memela (Spokesperson for the Ministry of Arts and Culture)
Cell: 082 800 3750
Premi Appalraju (Media Liaison Officer)
Cell: 082 375 2939
Issued by: Department of Arts and Culture
23 August 2006
Source: Department of Arts and Culture (http://www.dac.gov.za)
