Enjoy hype before the Jazz Festival

The third annual “Fashioning the Future” workshop will open its doors to all those involved in, or considering a career in fashion. Created by Wear SA- The Southern African Clothing and Textile Workers Union’s (SACTWU) official campaign promoting the design and manufacture of local fashion goods, the workshop will focus on sustainability.

As part of the Fashion meets Jazz collaboration that takes place in conjunction with the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF), the workshop com- prises a panel discussion with some of the South African fashion industry’s leading commentators giving voice to their opinions.

The workshop takes place at the Cape Sun Hotel on Wednesday March 30, from 10am to 12.30pm. Entry is free, but booking is essential.

To book, email natana@ espafrika.com

Arts journalism debate

Every year, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival hosts a free event that welcomes anyone in Cape Town to join in on a debate and discussion as part of the arts journalism workshop.

“Remembering Bheki” will explore the life and legacy of the late Lamontville-born pianist, composer and multi-instrumentalist Bheki Mseleku. Mseleku’s debut album Celebration was nominated for a prestigious Mercury Award in 1991, for which the player received international applause.

But after returning to South Africa, he found it hard to secure the respect and employment his stature merited. The debate will consider Mseleku’s music, his role in South African jazz his- tory, and the questions surrounding his lack of success in South Africa.

The debate takes place at the Opera Bar at Artscape Thea- tre on Wednesday March 30, from 1.30pm until 4pm.

Entry is free, but space is limited, so email natana@ espafrika. com to reserve places.

Jazz master classes

For aspiring musicians or anyone with a true appreciation for good music, the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) presents up close and personal master classes with some of this year’s most exciting artists.

American musicians Victor Wooten and Meshell Ndegeocello will lead a master class for bass players entitled “Bass has its place” on Friday April 1 at the Cape Sun Hotel.

Getting “Intimate with Instruments”, American Mark Turner and South African musos Mangwana, Lemmy “Special” Mabaso and Dizu Plaaitjies will open attendants’ eyes, minds and ears to the inexhaustible arrangements that can be made when traditional cultural instruments collaborate with the likes of the saxophone and more modern day musical tools.

Grammy award-winning Cassandra Wilson will also lead a master class.

The master classes on Saturday April 2, also at the Cape Sun Hotel, will feature America’s Sheila.E who will lead a class called “The Glamorous Life”, exploring the world of drumming, while Indian musician Rahul Sharma and American George Brooks share their world views on the saxophone and jazz fusion.

Rounding off this year’s sessions and adding a new dimension to the proceedings, Turkish muso Ilhan Erashin’s Istanbul Sessions will entice audiences with their unique take on world music.

Aside from the rich mu- sical experience offered by these professionals, CTIJF also in- cludes a music business master class, the theme of which is “Digital Music vs The Reset Button”.

Entry to the master classes is free, but booking is essential. Email natana@espafrika.com or call 021 671 0506.