Journey to Jazz Line-up Announced

More Artists Announced as The World of Jazz Music Comes to Prince Albert in May

Women of the World (from the Berklee Indian Ensemble), Skyjack
and break-out star, Giuliette Price, join the prestigious Journey to Jazz line-up

The second annual Journey to Jazz Festival (1-5 May 2024), is shaping up to be a world of fabulous music, right in the cultural capital of the Karoo – Prince Albert – with several new artists added to the previously announced stellar billing.

Artists joining the line-up and set to thrill are:

Being accustomed to presenting her craft in different formats, the much loved and highly respected South African jazz vocalist, pianist, and composer, Thandi Ntuli, who will present a Swiss/SA collab band: “A Million O Clock“, a special ensemble comprising some of the artists she met whilst on her studio residency in Switzerland in 2019. Much like the Art Ensemble project, which she recorded at the Jazzwerkstaat Bern festival, Ntuli and her Swiss band member Benedikt Reising, will be putting together a set of compositions and arrangements curated exclusively for the Journey to Jazz programme.

Women of the World is an exciting unity of voices and part of the Berklee Indian Ensemble that was founded by bandleader Annette Phillip in 2011.

“There is a unique power when musicians from different cultural and musical backgrounds make art together with vulnerability and openness in a space that celebrates their similarities and differences,” says Philip.

“The music that gets created in this space comes across viscerally and allows a song in a foreign language to feel completely relatable because of the human connection, making you want to be part of it.”

The ensemble for Journey to Jazz comprises: Ayumi Ueda (Japan), Annette Philip (India), Stacy Rene Erenberg (USA) and Heiraza (Turkey) with, Hinako Sato (Japan) on piano and keyboard.

Requiring no introduction to jazz fans in South Africa or in the multiple European cities that welcome them, Skyjack is all set to play at the second Journey to Jazz festival and will be debuting in South Africa, their brand new release entitled: “Light Cycle“. According to the album’s description, Light Cycle is a multidimensional creature with a big heart and a powerful imagination. Part sciencefiction adventure, part sentimental journey, “Light Cycle” reconciles expansive cosmic soundscapes with a solid grounding in memory and folklore.

The quintet comprises Marc Stucki (saxophone), Andreas Tschopp (Trombone, Kudu Horn), Kyle Shepherd (piano), Shane Cooper (double bass) and Jonno Sweetman (drums).

In keeping with the festival’s ideal of grooming young talent, the Artistic Director’s choice for 2024, Kyle Shepherd, has selected vocalist and songwriter, Giuliette Price to perform at this year’s Journey to Jazz. Price, who was part of last year’s UCT Little Big Band who played at the inaugural festival, returns to Prince Albert as a bandleader in her own right.

One to watch, Price’s outstanding talent and vocal range will invite festival goers to an evening of brutal honesty, and original music exploring her musical navigation around life, relationships, love, lust, and heartbreak. Price’s music is jazzy and soulful with a touch of “sad boy-bedroom pop”. Giuliette is set to breathe new life into the genre, making it accessible to a wider audience, and is accompanied by an incredible band that includes some of South Africa’s most exciting young talent.

Azuke Ntapane, the CEO of the Prince Albert Community Trust (PACT) remarked:

“The first Journey to Jazz was unknown territory for us, we had never staged a music festival of this nature, nor used our youth to help co-produce it. It was an enormous success, which puts us under a little pressure to deliver the second iteration with as much aplomb to match our discerning festivalgoers’ expectations.”

“I can safely say that this line-up is outstanding, and I would like to thank Kyle Shepherd and Brenda Sisane, our creative director, for their tireless and joyful efforts in curating this year’s musical offering. Gratitude also to Pro Helvetia who have come on board to support the realisation of our dream of cross-cultural unity through music, with their generous contributions towards Skyjack and Thandi Ntuli’s ensemble.”

Other artists who are performing at this year’s festival include:

Afrika Mkhize Quartet (SA)
Adam Zanoli’s Heliacal Rising of Sothis (USA)
Cameron Ward (SA)
Darren English Quartet (SA and USA)
Giovanni Guidi Trio (Italy/USA)
Artist in Residence, Artistic Director 2024 Kyle Shepherd (SA)
UCT Little Big Band (SA)
The Karoo Jazz Project – Directed by Ramon Alexander (SA)
Jonathan Rubain en die Koortjies Band (SA)

Venues where the festival will take place span the entire town, with most being in walking distance of one another. In addition to the Showroom Theatre and the Swartberg Pass, festival goers can experience performances at the NG Kerk, outdoors at the African Relish Restaurant, the intimate Old Barn, as well as its Botterblom Street for a New Orleans festive vibe. The official opening of the festival will be staged at the Krittikom Quarry Theatre a former disused quarry of prehistoric stone that was revamped by PACT for the inaugural event.

What also makes Journey to Jazz a total standout, is how the entire community comes together to present this world-class event, with the town’s abiding saying, “Groet is ‘n Moet” (Greeting is a Must), very much in evidence. Supporting the music on offer are a host of exciting lifestyle events and exhibitions. From a ghost walk, a night at the museum (for dinner), the Groet Tafel (Greeting Table) gathering, sunrise yoga, guided walks in the Swartberg Pass and at Wolwekraal, wine tastings and 5-star cuisine and more. Tickets for these events will also be made available on Quicket, with a percentage of the sales go towards the NPO Prince Albert Community Trust (PACT).

Journey to Jazz is produced by PACT, which created the festival to provide the youth of the town and surrounding areas, with the means to practically deliver the skills they have developed through PACT’s various training programmes. J2J is aimed at giving these young people income opportunities in an area that is very much isolated. In 2023, 86 youth were trained over a period of 10-months in all aspects of event management, and who delivered a professional event. In 2024, 80 youth will be involved in co-producing Journey to Jazz.

PACT also became the custodians of the town’s Showroom Theatre late last year, which is run as a social enterprise to further support PACT’s aims and to broaden the practical training of the town’s youth. Proceeds from Journey to Jazz also ensure that PACT can continue with its works in the area.

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