Jimmy Dludlu to headline at 10th Sekunjalo Annual Edujazz Concert

The Sekunjalo Edujazz Concert celebrates ten years this year and will take place at the Baxter Theatre on Friday 12 November. This annual concert has become a regular event on the Cape music calendar and a catalyst for the students that participate in this exciting annual event.

This year’s line-up will be headed up by Jimmy Dludlu and his Band. SAMA music award winner for ‘Best Contemporary Jazz Album” Dludlu’s wide ranging influence combines both traditional and modern elements of jazz drawn from amongst others Pat Metheny, George Benson and Wes Montgomery to South African legends Miriam Makeba, Hugh Masekela and Allen Kwela. Jimmy is particularly drawn to the sounds of the west and central Africa as well as Latin America, but jazz remains his first love. The programme will also feature the talents of the Ifidyoli Strings Project, a Beau Soleil project which takes place weekly and has grown into a vibrant ensemble with many students crossing over into Beau Soleil Music Centre’s main
programme.

The Sekunjalo Edujazz concert is proud to present more than just a spectacular night of jazz. The proceeds of the event help to raise funds for learners from economically disadvantaged communities in the Western Cape. Over 75 schools have already benefited from this exciting
musical project. Workshops are held throughout the year in various schools, the products of these workshops are The Edujazz Collaboration and the Edujazz Ensemble. These young musicians have performed at prestigious events such as the Youth Music festival in Brisbane and The Grahamstown Festival. The Sekunjalo Edujazz Concert has a lasting legacy within communities; the project allows young students to express their creative talent and to perform with known South African musicians on international stages. The participating schools have been invited to attend the Youth Music Festival Tuti in Beijing in 2011.

Over the past ten year years, the Sekunjalo Edujazz Concert has seen young music students from primary school through to tertiary level share the stage with jazz acts such as Tucan Tucan, Virtual Jazz Reality, The Darryl Andrews Jazz Band, and Galumphing. A few of the many school bands which have been showcased at this event are The Little Giants, Zerilda Park Primary Band from Lavender Hill and the Muizenberg High Jazz Band. Some of the students who have benefited from the Edujazz programme in the past are now well known musicians whose careers are moving from strength to strength, such as Kyle Shepherd. Other students like Darren English, Claude Cozens, Jamie Fuller Raven Hansman, Spha Mdlalose are
completing studies at UCT SA College of Music.

This year’s event promises to be fantastic with an impressive line-up and a special celebration for 10 year’s of Sekunjalo Edujazz. The concert will leave you filled with music and knowledge that audiences have played a role in contributing to a better education for our disadvantaged youth. This year the event will be held at the Baxter Theatre on Friday 12 November 2010 at 19H30, tickets are for sale at Computicket for the nominal fee of R75.

For more information, please call Cherie Hendricks or Adri Senekal on : +27 21 427 1400