Cape Town - Fresh and authentic jazz sounds by South African artists will entertain audiences in Cape Town on the last Thursday of the month, showcasing lesser-known artists and bands.
OvTech Solutions in partnership with Hotel Sky held the inaugural event at Hotel Sky last Thursday, the first in the Sky Jazz series.
OvTech founder Esra Overberg said: “We have too many jazz artists that are playing behind somebody else, and each of them has got music, and so I’ve encouraged them to write and compose their own music.”
The series is the fourth of its kind showcasing original jazz music and will run from August 2022 to August 2023, with a break scheduled in November and December.
Overberg said there were more jazz bands that played original music than venues in Cape Town.
“I’m inviting those who are hungry to listen to the sounds of our local artists. I want young people to come and listen to it… People who are hungry for new music, who want to collect new music, listen to something fresh.”
The Melorie Jane Quintet with Melorie de Villiers on keys and vocals, Carla Stokes on saxophone, Shaw Komori on trumpet, Lilavan Gangen on drums, and Alex Mayers on bass kept the audience on the 27th floor enthralled with their eclectic sounds.
“I started going to the Grahamstown Jazz Festival in 2015 or so, and there I heard this music – this more South African contemporary jazz that I am doing now. It hooked me,” De Villiers said.
On Saturday, the composer, pianist and vocalist bagged two awards – Best Female and Best Jazz Album (Public Vote Category), at the Mzantsi Jazz Awards.
Charles Louw of the Charles Louw Sextet will perform in the second instalment in September.
Tickets are available via Quicket SA, or WhatsApp 0653184066 for more information.