One of the Mother City’s most popular events returns in April, with international and local stars set to grace the stage at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF).
This year’s festival takes place on April 25 and 26 at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC), with dozens of artists featured on a line-up curated under the theme of ‘Legacy Meets Tomorrow’.
It’s a tribute to the rich heritage of the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, an event that has grown from an intimate concert at the Good Hope Centre to a multi-stage global affair attracting thousands of jazz-lovers to the CTICC.
And while the full line-up is still under wraps, one notable collaboration has been announced which definitely fits the theme of the 2025 festival.
For those lucky enough to bag a ticket for this special performance, Friday, April 25, will see acclaimed DJ and producer Black Coffee take the stage to share a sonic journey with pianist Nduduzo Makhathini. The pair have worked on tracks for almost a decade, but this performance will be their first full-length concert together, blending a fusion of jazz, electronic music, and African rhythms.
The duo will be accompanied by a full orchestra, a brass section, percussionists, and special guest vocalists, ensuring this once-off performance is a highlight of the festival.
Also confirmed for this year’s festival is Kyle Shepherd, one of South Africa’s most celebrated jazz pianists and composers. A proud Capetonian, Shepherd’s musical journey has taken him across 36 countries to perform everywhere from Carnegie Hall to the Sydney Opera House.
Thandiswa Mazwai also takes a turn on stage, bringing tracks from her latest album, ‘Sankofa’ to share an exploration of Xhosa musical traditions, jazz and West African sounds.
That’s just a teaser of what’s in store, with the CTIJF only revealing the full line-up in March. But if you want a ticket for these special performers, you’d best get booking quickly.
Tickets for the Cape Town International Jazz Festival are available on Ticketmaster, and cost R1050 per day, with a Weekend Pass for R1650.
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