CARLO MOMBELLI Bassist - Composer - Educator The South African composer/bassist/educator has recorded and performed at many international festivals. In South Africa he can be heard as a bassist on many recordings with amongst others, Marcus Wyatt, Simphiwe Dana, Sibongile Khumalo, Kyle Shepherd and Miriam Makeba. As a producer he worked on the Shane Cooper album ‘Oscillations’ that won the jazz album of the year at the 2014 SAMA awards. Besides performing, composing and recording, Carlo has been involved in music education for many years. In 1998 and 1999 he held a teaching post at the Richard-Strauss Conservatoire in Munich, Germany. Since then he has taught and run ensembles at amongst others, the Berklee College of Music in Boston and the Jazz Musik Akademie in Basel Switzerland. In 2015 he led the prestigious DKSJ-all-star-project with thirteen Masters students studying jazz in Switzerland. He currently teaches at Wits University, Johannesburg, where he received his doctorate in composition in 2009. www.carlomombelli.com
KYLE SHEPHERD Pianist, Composer, Film Composer & Band leader The twenty-nine-year-old virtuoso pianist who has a well-established record of celebrated performances in South Africa, Europe, Asia, Canada and the USA, has already released six critically acclaimed albums in his young career. The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack composed by Shepherd for the feature film ‘Noem My Skollie / Call Me Thief’ was released in November 2016. The award-winning pianist, is the recipient of both the coveted 'UNISA National Piano Competition Award [2015] and the ‘Standard Bank Young Artist of the Year’ Award [2014] in the Jazz Category. Shepherd regularly performs in concert as a Solo pianist, while also leading his Trio. Featuring Shepherd on piano, Shane Cooper on double bass and Jonno Sweetman on drums, this inspiring and inventive Trio, who have been together for the past six years, have captivated audiences across South Africa, Japan, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, China, Mozambique and Botswana. Shepherd is also a member of the Carlo Mombelli ‘Stories’ Quartet, Kesivan & the Lights - who performed at Carnegie Hall, New York in 2014, The Claude Cozens Trio, The Benjamin Jephta Quartet and Skyjack, a South African-Swiss collaboration. www.kyleshepherd.co.za
BOKANI DYER Bokani Dyer is a multi-award winning Motswana-South African pianist, composer and producer. His sold out shows at the Vortex in London (2014) were described as “thrilling” and “superlative” (jazzwisemagazine.com). Recent career highlights include playing at the opening of the London Jazz Festival (2015), with his Trio at Jazzahead in Bremen, Germany (2016) and Safaricom Jazz Festival, Kenya (2017), headlining the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (2015), an artistic residency at the Bird’s Eye jazz club in Basel, Switzerland (2014) and performing at the launch of the SA/Russia Seasons in Moscow and St Petersburg (2016). Born in 1986 in Gaborone, Botswana, where many artists from South Africa, including his father, musician Steve Dyer, were living in exile during apartheid, Dyer moved back to SA as a child in 1990. He grew up mainly in Johannesburg before moving to study jazz at the prestigious University of Cape Town, where he graduated with distinction. Dyer has recorded three jazz albums under his own name. In 2016, Dyer moved back to Johannesburg and is currently working on various projects with his father, legendary musician Steve Dyer, under the Dyertribe label as well as in a solo capacity. He is composing the score for a new film,directed by top SA comedian Kagiso Lediga, and also for his fourth album, which will feature his trio prominently. www.bokanidyer.com
ROMY BRAUTESETH Romy Brauteseth is a South African bassist. Born in Port Elizabeth in 1989, Brauteseth was surrounded by a musical family and played piano and guitar from an early age. She learnt to play electric bass and read music and played in the Victoria Park High School Big Band. She was chosen for the National Schools Big Band in 2005 and the National Youth Band in 2010. After matriculating, she studied Graphic Design at Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University whilst continuing a freelance music career in various bands, collaborations and theatre shows. Brauteseth moved to Cape Town and found her musical match in the upright bass, which she started playing in 2011. She has become one of SA’s most sought after young bass players and has played with top artists including Melanie Scholtz, Kesivan Naidoo, Mark Fransman, Marcus Wyatt, Feya Faku, Nduduzo Makathini, Dan Shout, Reza Khota, Lee Thomson, Gorm Helfjord, Kevin Gibson, Andrew Lilley, Alvin Dyers, Bokani Dyer and Kyle Shepherd at gigs and festivals across the country, and increasingly internationally. Brauteseth is now based in Johannesburg and is a permanent member of the Bokani Dyer Trio.
SPHELELO MAZIBUKO Sphelelo Mazibuko has performed and recorded as a drummer with many accomplished and respected South African artists including singers Dorothy Masuka, Sibongile Khumalo Melanie Scholtz, Lindiwe Maxolo, Nomfundo Xaluva, Steve Dyer, Mthunzi Namba, Sfiso Ncwane, Standard Bank Young Artist Award recipients: Benjamin Jephta, Bokani Dyer, Shane Cooper and Concord Nkabinde, with Musa Manzini, pianist Neil Gonsalves, guitarist Mageshen Naidoo, and the winner of Idols SA, Lloyd Cele as well as with the UKZN Big Band and UKZN Jazz Legacy Ensemble. Born in Newcastle, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, Mazibuko was born into a family with generations of musical tradition. He completed his a BA in Music and Media studies at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in 2013 and his freelance work has taken him to all corners of South Africa as well as to Virginia in the USA. Some of the events he has performed at include the Macufe Music Festival, Joy of Jazz Festival, Grahamstown Jazz Festival, Durban Music Festival, Ugu Jazz Festival, Lejweleputswa Festival, the Soweto Theatre Birthday Celebration and the 2017 Safaricom Jazz Festival in Kenya. He is a permanent member of the Bokani Dyer Trio and also a member of a progressive musical Trio – AfricaPlus. Sphelelo Mazibuko is a SonorSA Drums Endorsee.
MIKE ROSSI saxophonist - educator - composer American born, Rossi is Professor in Jazz and Woodwinds at the SA College of Music, University of Cape Town. His achievements include numerous recordings, and international stage appearances as leader, soloist, and sideman with Tony Bennett, Dave Liebman, Winston Mankunku Ngozi, George Russell, Clark Terry, Alessio Menconi and Darius Brubeck amongst others. He is an exceptional saxophone and woodwind player, and an artist for Rampone & Cazzani Handmade Italian saxophones. He has performed around the globe in small and large ensembles and gives workshops on South African jazz worldwide. As a composer and performer he has appeared on numerous jazz and classical recordings, and has written a series of method books on jazz improvisation, with translations in other languages, along with many compositions, all published by Advance Music and Schott Music. His sextet The Mike Rossi Project has performed at the JazzKif Jazz Festival (DRC), Cape Town International Jazz Festival, Joy of Jazz Festival, Grahamstown Jazz Festival and has won two Concerts SA Music Mobility awards, with an upcoming tour to the Eastern Cape (Port Elizabeth and East London) in May 2017. He served as SAJE President from 2008 to 2016. www.mikerossijazz.com
MAGESHEN NAIDOO South African guitarist, composer and educator, Mageshen Naidoo hails from the township of Chatsworth in Kwazulu Natal. He has performed in the USA, London, Scotland, Germany, Sweden, Canada, Mexico, Denmark and all over South Africa. As a US Fulbright Student, Mageshen graduated with a Doctor of Musical Arts degree (Performance) from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. He also holds a MM degree (Studio/Jazz Guitar Performance) from USC, a MMus Degree (Performance & Jazz Composition), cum laude and a BMus degree (Jazz Studies) from the University of Natal. At USC, he studied guitar with the legendary Joe Diorio and master classes with Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Mike Stern, Paul Jackson Jr and Kurt Rosenwinkel. Naidoo is the current President of the South African Association for Jazz Education (SAJE) and continues to serve many educational and professional music organizations, including SAMRO. He is currently Associate Professor and Director for Jazz Studies in the Department of Music at the University of Pretoria.
AMANDA TIFFIN Amanda Tiffin was born in Zimbabwe, but has made her home and her name in Cape Town, South Africa, where she studied Jazz Composition and Performance at the University of Cape Town. She received her Masters Degree with distinction, and has gone on to become one of Cape Town’s best-loved vocalist-pianists, and a respected Musical Director/Arranger, orchestrator and composer. Amanda has performed extensively as a vocalist and pianist in South Africa in numerous Jazz venues, Concert Halls and festivals. She has appeared in London, with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, tours regularly as a jazz artist in Japan and Taiwan, and most recently performed in Paris. A versatile artist, Amanda has performed in varying genres: from Musical theatre and stage shows to intimate jazz concerts. She has produced several of her own successful theatre shows, to critical acclaim, is in demand as a Musical Director, and is a busy vocal arranger, writing for a variety of vocal combinations. She has recorded 6 albums: 3 solo, 2 with her Asia-based trio, the a.s.k. trio, and 1 with acclaimed a cappella group “Not the Midnight Mass”. Amanda is also a passionate and respected educator, and regularly conducts workshops and master classes in South Africa and abroad. She is Head of Jazz Singing at the SA College of Music, University of Cape Town. www.amandatiffin.com
NICKY SCHRIRE Nicky Schrire is an award-winning vocalist, composer and arranger whose adventurous spirit reflects her international upbringing. Schrire graduated in 2011 from the Manhattan School of Music where she earned a Masters of Music Degree under the tutelage of Peter Eldridge, Theo Bleckmann and Dave Liebman. Nicky is a versatile and inventive vocalist and composer whose work has earned her comparisons to artists like Joni Mitchell, Tori Amos, and Esperanza Spalding. She has performed in New York, Los Angeles, Boston, London, Dublin and South Africa, with musicians ranging from Arno Carstens, Sibongile Khumalo, and Card On Spokes, to Grammy-nominated pianists Gerald Clayton and Gil Goldstein. Her work with cellist Ariella Caira (founding member of Sterling EQ, Alice Phoebe Lou, Jeremy Loops) has seen the duo collaborate with composer Matthijs van Dijk, Prime Circle drummer Kevin Gibson, Hatchetman’s Jono Tait, and double-bill with Beatenberg frontman Matthew Field. The two recorded and released the EP "An Education" on London label Wild Sound Recordings in 2015, followed by performances at the Cape Town Folk and Acoustic Music Festival, and the Milk & Honey Festival. www.nickyschrire.com
ROLAND MOSES Roland Moses completed his M.Mus (cum laude) in Jazz Performance, Composition and Arranging at the University of Natal in 2001. He attended Goteborg University in Sweden as part of a student exchange program in the same year. He has lectured at the University of Natal; Durban Institute of Technology; and Tshwane University of Technology specialising in Instrumental, Performance, Improvisation teaching. He has developed and facilitated several Community music projects and conducts music literacy workshops in underprivileged areas in Kwa-Zulu Natal and Gauteng. Dr Roland Moses is currently senior lecturer and program co-ordinator for Jazz and Popular Music at the Tshwane University of Technology, School of Performing Arts in Pretoria. He is also a member of the Peter Auret Trio.
DAVE LEDBETTER Dave Ledbetter is a prolific musician, renowned as a gifted guitarist, pianist, bandleader, composer-arranger, singer-lyricist and sought-after accompanist, session player and MD. He performs across musical genres, having done so with a number of groups and on many stages.
ANDREW LILLEY Andrew Lilleyis currently an Associate Professor in the Jazz Studies Programme at the SA College of Music, University of Cape Town where he lectures in piano, improvisation, theory and ear training. He graduated summa cum laude at Berklee College of Music and holds a PHD from UCT. He is an active performer and appears regularly with local and international artists in South Africa and abroad.
ALISTAIR ANDREWS Bass player, composer, clinician. Music Technology Specialist at Paul Bothner Music
Alvin Dyers Jazz guitarist and educator, Alvin Dyers was born in Harfield Village (Cape Town) in 1953. He started playing guitar from the age of seven. He formed his first band called Sacred Legion with his equally talented brother, Errol Dyers. He also formed part of the group of musicians that played in Pacific Express in the ‘80s. Some of the musicians he has played with include other legends, for example Winston Mankunku Ngozi, Ezra Ngcukana, Johnny Fourie and many more. He is currently a jazz guitar teacher at the University of Cape Town where he continues to nurture and inspire another generation of jazz musicians in the province.
UCT BIG BAND The UCT Big Band has become part of Cape Town's jazz scene over the past 24 years, having maintained a consistently high standard of performance to date. It has been one of a few performing groups in South Africa to concentrate on the most contemporary sounds in modern big band jazz, and bringing the full big band sound to indigenous South African music. The group regularly features singers from the UCT jazz programme.
Rondebosch Boys’ High Big Band One of many ensembles in the School’s music program, the Jazz Band has established an enviable reputation as one of the top Jazz Bands in the country, winning critical acclaim for its polished performances. Besides numerous performances around the Cape, the band has undertaken highly successful tours and also performs at and participates in the annual Standard Bank National Youth Jazz Festival in Grahamstown. The band is trained and led by Terrence Scarr, who is Head of Music at RBHS.
INTERNATIONAL GUESTS
GUILHERME RIBEIRO Pianist, keyboardist, accordionist, composer and educator Guilherme Ribeiro was born in Santos-SP, graduated in music from the University of Campinas - Unicamp. He regularly performs at jazz festivals and conferences such as Montreal Jazz Festival in Canada, NorthSea Jazz Festival in Holland, JVC Jazz Festival in Paris - France, Sfinks in Belgium, Coachella in the US, IASJ (International Association of Schools of Jazz) in São Paulo - Brazil and South African Association for Jazz Education Conference in 2012, Cape Town and in 2016, Johannesburg - South Africa. His own recordings include "Calmaria" (2010), "Que se deseja rever" (2012) and "A deep Surface" (2013) launched only in Europe and "Tempo" released in 2015. Currently he is a member of the popular brazilian musical group "O Teatro Mágico". In the area of music education Guilherme works as professor of piano and accordion at Souza Lima College of Music and EMESP Tom Jobim, both music schools located in São Paulo. Since 2012 he has participated as a guest professor of accordion and Brazilian music at the annual Arcevia Jazz Festival in Italy. Guilherme's visit to Cape Town has been made possible by a travel grant from the Consulate General of Brazil in Cape Town. https://www.facebook.com/guilhermeribeiromusic
ROBERTO ZECHINI guitarist - composer - educator Born in Fermo, Italy Roberto regularly plays at festivals and international seasons in Italy, Switzerland, Germany, UK, Austria, Spain, France, Russia, Morocco, Albania, Serbia, and Montenegro. He graduated in jazz guitar from Berklee College of Music and has several degrees in Russian language and literature. Always passionate about literature, poetry and theatre he writes, arranges and performs music for many poets, actors, photographers and directors of film and theatre. He teaches jazz guitar, improvisation and harmony at several music schools in Italy. Roberto's visit to Cape Town has been made possible by a travel grant from the Istituto Italiano di Cultura in Pretoria. www.robertozechini.it
GORDON VERNICK Dr. Gordon Vernick is a Professor of Music and Coordinator of Jazz Studies at Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. As a professional trumpet player, he has performed in all musical mediums from symphony orchestra to jazz quartet and has free-lanced all over the world. He is currently active as a clinician, an adjudicator, and as a freelance trumpet player. He has performed with such world-renown jazz artists as Kenny Werner, Clare Fischer, John Hart, Kevin Hays, Conrad Herwig, Marc Copland, Randy Brecker, Paul McCandless, and others. As a clinician/teacher he has served residencies and performed at the Conservatory of San Juan, P.R., the Taipei American School in Taiwan, the Singapore American School, the Bangkok International School, Columbia College Chicago, The Conservatory of Bordeaux, the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and the Royal Northern Conservatory of Manchester, U.K. His podcasts, Jazz Insights, have been featured on a number of websites including the New York Times and have been downloaded over 12 million times since May 2009 He is a Van Laar trumpet clinician. http://www.gordonvernick.com *Dr Vernick's visit to Cape Town in April has been possible through the UCT Visiting Scholar's Fund.
SA/ITALIA Ensemble Three cultural exchange students from Italy - Thomas Lasca (guitar), Federico Zoppi (saxophone) and Marta Guilioni (vocals) will perform with South African jazz musicians Sibusiso Matsimela (acoustic bass) and Jarryd West (drums) during a free lunch hour concert on Saturday 29 April