Tuku featured on the North Sea Jazz Festival cd

The North Sea Jazz Festival (NSJF) – Cape Town, affectionately known as “Africa’s Grandest Gathering” is South Africa’s premier jazz gathering. To celebrate the 5th anniversary of the festival, Sheer Sound in conjunction with NSJF have released a double cd entitled “North Sea Jazz Festival 2000 - 2004”.
This album features artists that have performed at the festival since its inception in 2000 right through to artists that performed at this year’s festival which took place in Cape Town between April 10 and 11.

Oliver Mtukudzi who performed at the festival in the year 2002 is featured on the album with his track Kunze kwadoka. Kunze kwadoka is lifted of Tuku’s album Paivepo. Tuku is just one of the many respected musicians that are featured on this double album. Disc one opens with the late Moses Taiwa Molelekwa’s Nomkhosi and picks up the tempo with Ronny Jordan’s Tinsel Town, a true jazz classic. Hugh Masekela’s Marketplace, will take you on an unforgettable trip to the market place where one can visualise Masekela’s lover who’s floating in the marketplace like a butterfly. Some of the musicians featured on disc one include Paul Hanmer, Sipho Gumede, Tananas, Andy Narell and Spyro Gyra.

Disc 2 starts with an uptempo latino dance track by Tucan Tucan called Conga Loca. This is followed by the ever beautiful African Classic, Mmalo We by Jabu kanyile and Bayethe. One of the tracks that will make you groove is Pieces by the band Pieces of a dream. This is a love ballad laced with smooth vocals and mellow jazzy rhythms. Although the album features artists from South Africa it has an international feel. Cassandra Wilson’s I can’t stand the rain and India Arie’s Brown skin will leave you wondering how different is neo classic soul from jazz.

Sakhile’s Mangwanani, Jonathan Butler’s If I ever lose this heaven, and Gloria Bosman’s Amaqwathi make this double cd a must have for any jazz fan. This album is unique in that it features many styles of jazz which many will find appealing. Some of the artists that performed at this years festival in April included Stimela, Cassandra Wilson, Mirriam Makeba, Raga Afrika, Jonathan Butler and Femi Kuti with his band positive force. This album can be purchased on line at www.oneworld.co.za
Visit the NSJF Cape Town website www.nsjfcapetown.com