Make a date with Cape Town International Jazz Festival

SONGBIRD: Zamajobe will be part of a sensational mix of music icons at the Cape Town Jazz Fest.

AFRO-JAZZ music sensation Zamajobe is set to be part of the upcoming Cape Town International Jazz Festival line-up. Zamajobe, who first stepped into the spotlight during the 2003 South African Idols contest, in which she managed to crack the top five, had been curiously absent from the live performance scene after releasing two successful albums.

But, last week she was announced by the organisers of the festival as one of the local artists who will share the stage with international musicians, such as Marcus Miller, Patti Austin and Jamaican reggae band Third World.

Locally she will join the likes of Zahara, hip-hop pantsula, bassist Herbie Tsoaeli, fashionista-turned- recording artist Lindiwe Suttle, and will have an opportunity to share her debut album with the crowd.

Kamikaze art, Afro-house and live jazz musician Unathi Msengana and Zakes Bantwini will also perform.

The rest of the line up is completed by: James Ingram (US), Dave Koz (US), Mike Stern with special guest Dave Weckl (US), Virtual Jazz Reality (SA), Brubecks play Brubeck (US/SA), Ron Carter, Donald Harrison and Lenny White (US), Andre Petersen Quintet (SA), Atmosphere (US), Jean Grae (USA), Goodluck (SA), The Jason Reolon Trio (SA), David Sanchez with special guest Lionel Loueke (Puerto Rico/ Benin), The Moreira Project (Mozambique) and the Alexander Sinton High School Jazz Band (SA).

"The Cape Town International Jazz Festival does not only expose audiences to a wide range of the best international and local music, but the event also contributes to providing a larger skills base in the creative sector, which helps sustain the creative industries in South Africa," Minister of Arts and Culture Paul Mashatile said.

Mashatile recommitted his department to supporting the festival at the media conference in Cape Town yesterday.